[Ananda Wong, Shongjog columnist]
As Malaysia prepares for a significant year in 2025—taking over the Chair of ASEAN and celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations with Australia—it is an opportune moment to reflect on the enduring and multifaceted relationship between these two nations.
A key pillar of this relationship is their deep defence cooperation, rooted in shared history, strategic interests, and regional security concerns.
Australia has played a pivotal role in Malaysia’s defence history, particularly during the tumultuous periods of World War II, the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960), and the Konfrontasi with Indonesia in the 1960s.
For many Malaysians, the sacrifices made by Australian soldiers in these conflicts are not merely historical footnotes but cherished memories that have shaped the national narrative. These experiences have forged a sense of trust and mutual respect that continues to underpin defence relations to this day.
The Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), established in 1971, further solidifies the defence ties between Australia and Malaysia. As one of the founding members, Malaysia values the FPDA as a platform for ensuring regional stability and security, particularly in the face of external threats.
The FPDA, which also includes Singapore, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, allows for joint military exercises and consultations, enhancing interoperability and fostering deeper military cooperation. For Malaysia, these exercises serve as an opportunity to learn from more experienced partners like Australia, improving its operational and tactical capabilities.
Australia, in turn, has benefited from this long-standing relationship. The FPDA provides Australia with a strategic foothold in Southeast Asia, particularly through its continued presence at the Malaysian airbase in Butterworth.
This presence offers Australia valuable access to vital maritime chokepoints and enhances its ability to monitor regional security threats, especially in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific region.
One of the key advantages of Australia’s relationship with Malaysia is its role as a “resident power” in Southeast Asia. Unlike the United States, which often views the region through a lens of strategic competition with China, Australia shares a more nuanced understanding of Southeast Asia’s complex security dynamics.
Malaysia, for example, appreciates Australia’s more restrained approach to China—an approach that contrasts with the more confrontational stance taken by some other Western powers. Malaysia’s own cautious approach to the South China Sea, where it has overlapping maritime claims with China, aligns with Australia’s preference for diplomatic engagement over military confrontation.
This shared approach to managing the challenges posed by China is central to the continued strength of their bilateral defence ties. While Malaysia remains committed to its non-confrontational stance, particularly regarding Chinese incursions into Malaysian waters, it recognises the importance of maintaining strong defence partnerships, especially as its own military capabilities remain limited.
The Royal Malaysian Navy, for example, continues to operate warships that are decades old, and Malaysia lacks the comprehensive maritime surveillance coverage that would be necessary to defend its extensive maritime claims effectively.
In this context, Australia could play a crucial role in bolstering Malaysia’s maritime defence capabilities. Technical support, training, and assistance in improving surveillance systems could be a significant area of cooperation, particularly in addressing Malaysia’s “blind spots” in the South China Sea.
These efforts could help Malaysia enhance its maritime security without resorting to the kind of escalation that could provoke a broader regional conflict.
However, the path to closer defence cooperation is not without its challenges. One area of potential tension is the differing positions of Australia and Malaysia on issues outside the Indo-Pacific, such as the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia has consistently expressed support for Hamas and has been critical of Israel, a stance that stands in contrast to Australia’s close ties with the Israeli state. While these differences may not directly impact defence relations, they serve as a reminder that even close allies can have divergent views on global issues.
Additionally, the future of the FPDA remains a delicate issue. While Malaysia values the arrangement, it is wary of any efforts to expand its scope, particularly if this would provoke a stronger response from China.
The Malaysian government is keen to avoid antagonising Beijing, a key economic partner, and would likely resist any push to broaden the FPDA’s mandate in a way that could be perceived as a counter to Chinese interests.
It is very much apparent that the defence relationship between Australia and Malaysia is a vital one, grounded in shared history and common strategic interests. As the region faces new challenges, particularly from China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, the partnership between these two nations will remain critical.
It is, however, essential that both parties continue to engage in careful diplomacy, balancing defence cooperation with regional sensitivities, in order to preserve a relationship that has proven resilient over decades.
The 2025 milestones—ASEAN Chairmanship and the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations—offer an important opportunity to reaffirm and strengthen this strategic partnership for the future.
Shongjog 