[685] Of Malaysian imperialism… err… federalism: ASEAN

Ever wonder why an ASEAN Charter is being cooked up only 38 years after the formation of ASEAN? Ever wonder why it was Mahathir, Malaysian former prime minister, that first gave serious consideration to a formation of loose East Asian trade confederation? Ever wonder why all these are happenning only when Malaysia (tag) holds ASEAN’s chair?

There’s only one answer: it’s Malaysian imperialism gone wild!

I don’t know about you but I feel Malaysia is personally responsible in bringing Southeast Asian together. Don’t believe me?

Remember before 1963, when there was Malaya? And then suddenly, there was Malaysia. Indonesia and the Philippines protested. Indonesia went further down the road and declared hostility against Malaysia. At the same thing, there was Malphilindo – a precursor of ASEAN – that main purpose was to cool down the mercury. Malphilindo was a smokescreen to ensure Malaysian survival – nothing else. Malphilindo failed but so did Indonesian hostility against Malaysia. Then, it was ASEAN.

Scholars believe that ASEAN at first was formed to counter communist insurgency which was rampant in Vietnam. Don’t believe those scholars. They were paid by Malaysian agents to further the cause of Malaysian imperialism. ASEAN is formed primarily to guarantee Malaysia’s dominance of Southeast Asian politics.

That’s why when Singapore outdid us in economic development, we were furious and hold grunges against the people down south. We were also disappointed that Brunei turned down an offer to join the Malaysian Federation in 1963. And we funded the rebels in Mindanao when the Philippines tried to encourage separatist movement in Sabah. All these challenged Malaysian ambition.

After our failure to expand Malaysian dominance to Singapore and Brunei, we started to realize that federation is not the answer to ensure Malaysian superiority over Southeast Asia. We found three other more effective ways to expand our frontiers.

First was economic cooperation. Ever wonder the percentage of lands owned by Malaysian corporations in Indonesian Sumatra? Ever wonder why Malaysia, instead had joint-exploration agreement in the disputed areas in the Gulf of Thailand with Thailand? In spite of the gulf is actually named after Thailand? Got you thinking, didn’t I?

Second, claiming more areas and bringing them up to International Court of Justice. ICJ is a Malaysian puppet. The Americans know this and that’s why they refuse to submit to the ICJ. Remember Sipadan and the other island? Does Pulau Batu Putih ring a bell? Ever wonder why Malaysia refuses to give up Tanjung Pagar to Singapore despite the fact that it’s in Singapore? How about Ambalat? Spratly?

Third, funding of rebels. Mindanao, Aceh, southern Thailand. You think Malaysia doesn’t have a hand on it? Isn’t it a bit suspicious that all these provinces are located near Malaysian borders?

Unfortunately, the three methods take years, decade and perhaps centuries to realize Malaysian imperialism.

Hence, come the ultimate strategy, which is political and economic integration of Southeast Asia. Here is where ASEAN and the charter come into play. An ASEAN charter sets to pave a way to a more integrated Southeast Asian communitee. C’mon. Think.

Furthermore, when Myanmar gets into trouble, who is always there first? Malaysia. At the current WTO negoatiation, who represents ASEAN’s interest? Malaysia. Some others too. Despite Malaysia has merely 24 million citizens while Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines have more than 60 million people each – Indonesia has more than 200 million people! -, how on do you explain Malaysian dominance in ASEAN? How could 24 million people control half a billion people in Southeast Asia?

Malaysian hands are the invisible hands within ASEAN. In reality, ASEAN is just another name for Persekutuan Malaysia Raya – Greater Malaysian Federation. The name isn’t Greater Malaysian Federation because we don’t want to alarm those in the other member states. From the look of it, it’s working sublimely.

Previously, I had proposed ascension of Brunei, annexation of Sumatra, invitation to several troubled Malay Thai states and reintegration of Singapore into the Union. This was the situation:

In reality, Malaysia really is:

LOL! Watch out Australia!