I board a flight this evening to spend Christmas with my wife’s family in Brisbane and I finally have a chance to reflect on what was, by any measure, the most extraordinary year for the UK-Malaysia bilateral relationship. A year which has seen our links across virtually all sectors, from education to trade, grow to unprecedented levels. A year that has seen us firmly deliver the message that ‘Britain is back’.
Some people might say that we have been fortunate, after all, this was the year that London hosted the Olympics and Paralympics, and the year that Her Majesty The Queen celebrated her Diamond Jubilee. I would have to agree – these events have helped to focus the world’s attention on the UK. But, you need more than symbolic events to make a real difference. You need the dedication of people who are willing to think creatively and to stretch their imaginations to make sure that these occasions have a lasting positive impact on people’s lives.
I have seen this happen throughout the year and I am incredibly proud of what the High Commission has achieved. Allow me to reminisce for a moment.
The Prime Minister’s visit in April, the first by a British Prime Minister for nearly two decades, demonstrated in no uncertain terms our commitment to rebuilding a neglected relationship with an old friend. I was struck by the event at Nottingham University’s Malaysia Campus where the Prime Minister and Prime Minister Najib, the leaders of two of the world’s most diverse nations, stood side-by-side and condemned the curse of extremism. Hopefully, next year, we will see the Global Movement of Moderates really begin to have an impact on the global stage.
The two leaders set a challenging target of doubling bilateral trade to £8bn by 2016 and work is already underway to ensure that we succeed. I think it’s worth highlighting the enormous investment by SP Setia in the Battersea Power Station site and the recent order for 100 A320 aircrafts by AirAsia. But it hasn’t all been in one direction. Rolls Royce just signed a £500m contract with Malaysia Airlines to service the A380 engines.
On the security side, I want to mention the vital role that Malaysia played in securing the Mindanao Peace Agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Malaysia’s role as the facilitator of the talks could provide a blueprint for dealing with other conflicts in the region.
Undoubtedly the highlight of the year for all of us was the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Even now, everyone that we meet in KL recollects their personal experience of speaking to the couple. They really seem to have touched people’s hearts. For me, there are three abiding memories: the Duchess’s moving conversation with Zakwan Anuar at Hospis Malaysia; the serene and spiritual atmosphere as the couple visited Assyakirin Mosque; and the huge crowds lining the street around Lahad Datu airport even though this part of programme was supposed to have been kept secret for security reasons. Let’s also not forget the High Commissioner video inviting the public to KLCC park which generated nearly 10,000 hits!
Many people ask what are the direct benefits of royal visits of this kind and I agree that it is often difficult to quantify. However, I think it’s important to mention two things. In conjunction with the visit, the Sabah Government announced an expansion of the network of protected forests in Sabah to an area larger than that of greater London. And the Duke and Duchess’s visit to Hospis Malaysia helped to kick-start Malaysia’s national paediatric palliative care programme, which will hopefully revolutionise the support given to young people suffering from life-limiting illness. I should also add that the British Malaysia Chamber of Commerce raised RM 210,000 (£ 42,000) for Hospis Malaysia through the business lunch that they hosted for Their Royal Highnesses.
So what about next year? Can we maintain the same level of ambition? In short: yes! There is so much to look forward from the hotly anticipated elections in the early part of the year to the Malaysia-inspired World Islamic Economic Forum being held in London next October – the first time that it is taking place outside of the Islamic World. We can also look forward to the largest ever contingent of Malaysian Chevening Scholars going to the UK – the programme is now the third biggest in the world but hurry if you haven’t already submitted your application as the window closes on 2 January 2013.
So with that, can I wish you all the very best for 2013? I look forward to being in touch in the New Year!