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Malaysia–New Zealand relations

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Malaysia–New Zealand relations
Map indicating locations of Malaysia and New Zealand

Malaysia
New Zealand
Diplomatic mission
Malaysian High Commission, WellingtonNew Zealand High Commission, Kuala Lumpur
Envoy
High Commissioner Nur Izzah Wong Mee ChooHigh Commissioner H.E. Pam Dunn

Malaysia–New Zealand relations (Malay: Hubungan Malaysia–New Zealand; Jawi: هوبوڠن مليسيا-نيوزيلند; Māori: Ngā whanaungatanga Aotearoa-Marēhia) refers to foreign relations between Malaysia and New Zealand. Malaysia has a High Commission in Wellington,[1] and New Zealand has a High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.[2] Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations and Malaysia is important to New Zealand for strategic, political and economic reasons,[3][4] with both countries' leaders were engaged in frequent visits to boost their relations.[3][4][5]

Country comparison

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 Malaysia  New Zealand
Coat of Arms
Flag Malaysia New Zealand
Population 31,360,000 5,084,000
Area 330,803 km2 (127,724 sq mi) 268,021 km2 (103,483 sq mi)
Population Density 92/km2 (240/sq mi) 17.9/km2 (46/sq mi)
Time zones 1 2
Capital Kuala Lumpur Wellington
Largest City Kuala Lumpur – 1,768,000 Auckland – 1,657,200
Government Federal parliamentary elective constitutional monarchy Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Established 31 August 1957 (Independence from UK)
16 September 1963 (Formation of Malaysia) 		7 May 1856
First Leader Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan (Monarch)
Tunku Abdul Rahman (Prime Minister) 		Queen Victoria (Monarch)
Henry Sewell (Prime Minister)
Head of State Monarch: Ibrahim Monarch: Charles III
Head of Government Prime Minister: Anwar Ibrahim Prime Minister: Christopher Luxon
Legislature Parliament of Malaysia Parliament of New Zealand
Upper House Senate
President: Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar 		none
Lower House House of Representatives
Speaker: Johari Abdul 		House of Representatives
Speaker: Adrian Rurawhe
Judiciary Federal Court of Malaysia
Chief Justice: Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat 		Supreme Court of New Zealand
Chief Justice: Helen Winkelmann
National language Malay English, Māori, NZ Sign Language
GDP (nominal) $800.169 billion ($25,833 per capita) US$215.1 billion (44,069 per capita)

History

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New Zealand Prime Minister Walter Nash with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdul Razak Hussein during Nash's visit to Kuala Lumpur in 1960.

Official diplomatic relations between Malaysia and New Zealand has been established since 25 September 1957, with Malaysia remains as one of the oldest partner for New Zealand in Southeast Asia.[3] The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has maintained its presence since the 1950s to fight alongside its allies from the threat of communism in the Malayan Emergency, Second Malayan Emergency and Sarawak Communist Insurgency. Following the formation of the Malaysian federation, the NZDF also defended the British Malaya and Borneo from the Indonesian military infiltration.[6][7][8][9]

In June 2024, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters met with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof and Opposition Leader Hamzah Zainudin to reaffirm bilateral cooperation in the areas of defence, security, people-to-people links, science and technology, and trade and economic engagement.[10]

Diplomatic relations

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Malaysia is represented by a High Commission in Wellington[1] while New Zealand is represented by a High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.[2]

In 2014, a Malaysian diplomat named Mohammed Rizalman Ismail was arrested by the New Zealand Police and charged with burglary and assault with intent to rape after allegedly following a 21-year-old woman, Tania Billingsley to her home in Wellington.[11][12]

Trade and economic relations

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The economic relations between the two countries also underpinned by four free trade agreements, including:

The trade and economic relationship between Malaysia and New Zealand is strong. This is in part because Malaysia occupies an influential position within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and is well-known to New Zealanders. In 2005, Malaysia and New Zealand initiated discussions on a bilateral free-trade agreement.[16] On 6 August 2020 Malaysia and New Zealand completed an Exchange of Letters to amend Article 1 of Annex 3 of the Malaysia New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. The amendment to Annex 3 entered into force on 1 October 2020.[17]

In 2012, Malaysia was New Zealand's eighth-largest trading partner with Malaysia's exports comprising petroleum, computer and television equipment and palm oil worth around NZ$1.84 Billion, while New Zealand exports to Malaysia stood at NZ$888 million, consisting of dairy products, meat and scrap metal. A free trade agreement between the two countries was signed on 26 October 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, and entered into force in August 2010.[18] Many New Zealand companies have a significant presence in Malaysia, primarily in the food, telecommunications and ICT sectors. The Free Trade Agreement aimed to encourage two-way investment between Malaysia and New Zealand.[19]

The total bilateral trade between two countries in 2016 stood at US$1.42 billion. Exports amounted to US$730 million, while imports amounted to US$680 million. In 2017, the two countries expressed their interest to expand the collaboration in the ICT and tourism sectors.[20] In the same year, New Zealand economic relations with Malaysia were also being discovered in other areas such as the food (mainly dairy products) and beverage sector and both countries announced their intention to foster stronger business and cultural links between them. A cultural exchange between Māori and the indigenous people of the Malaysian state of Sabah had been held in Kota Kinabalu.[21] New Zealand welcomed a group of 15 government delegates from the Malaysian state of Sarawak for a meeting held in April 2019 to share and discuss common indigenous interests and co-operation.[22]

Education relations

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Under the Colombo Plan, a large number of Malaysian students were given the opportunity to study in New Zealand.[3][19] New Zealand is working to attract more students from Malaysia as part of the country efforts to promote it as a first choice for foreign study. An arrangement on higher education co-operation was signed between the two countries in 2013.[9] In 2019, further education relations were reinforced between New Zealand and the Malaysian state of Sarawak.[23]

Security relations

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Three flags dedicated to Australian, British and New Zealanders soldiers in Kundasang War Memorial, Ranau, Sabah, Malaysia.

New Zealand and Malaysia are both members of the Five Power Defence Arrangements. New Zealand plays a key role in the frequent military exercises between the countries involved.[24][25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Malaysia High Commission, New Zealand". Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b Trade, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and. "New Zealand High Commission". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Our relationship with Malaysia". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand). Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  4. ^ a b Peter Sibon (3 November 2013). "NZ keen to enhance ties with Malaysia – With David Pine". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  5. ^ Hon Todd McClay (17 April 2017). "McClay in talks to promote trade & investment with Malaysia". Government of New Zealand. Scoop.co.nz. Archived from the original on 18 April 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Aggression Must be Deterred". The Age. 7 September 1964. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Confrontation in Borneo". NZ History. Government of New Zealand. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Malaysia–New Zealand Ties". Official Website of High Commission of Malaysia, Wellington. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  9. ^ a b c "Malaysia". Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  10. ^ "NZ and Malaysia to intensify connections". Inside Government. 8 June 2024. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  11. ^ Isaac Davison (30 June 2014). "Govt wanted sex case diplomat to face charges - Key". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  12. ^ Rebecca Quilliam; Isaac Davison (30 June 2014). "Diplomat case: NZ asked to drop all charges". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  13. ^ Trade, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and. "ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand free trade agreement (AANZFTA)". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  14. ^ Trade, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and. "Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  15. ^ Trade, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and. "Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  16. ^ Georgina Bond (10 March 2005). "Strong reasons for Malaysia, NZ deal". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  17. ^ Trade, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and. "NZ-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  18. ^ Trade, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and. "NZ-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  19. ^ a b Fiona Acheson (12 July 2013). "Malaysia - the ties that bind". New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  20. ^ "Malaysia To Expand Collaboration With New Zealand In IT, Tourism Sectors". Bernama. Malaysian Digest. 18 April 2017. Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  21. ^ "Minister fosters stronger business and cultural links between Māori and Malaysia". Beehive.govt.nz. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  22. ^ Ghaz Ghazali (9 March 2019). "Envoy: Indigenous cooperation to reaffirm NZ-Sarawak ties". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  23. ^ "New Zealand, Sarawak reinforce ties through education". The Borneo Post. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  24. ^ Zhang Dongmiao (20 April 2017). "New Zealand forces say to play leading role in Southeast Asia military exercise". Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  25. ^ "HMNZS Te Kaha Plays Key Role in Southeast Asia Exercise". New Zealand Defence Force. Scoop.co.nz. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
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