Japan honours Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad, hoping for an ally in checking China’s influence
- Mahathir’s firm approach when dealing with China is in contrast to Asean member states’ largely positive responses to China’s economic might
- Tokyo also hopes Malaysia will support its push for freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, the focal point for several territorial disputes
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has been honoured with Japan’s highest award – the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers – in recognition of the premier’s contributions to strengthening bilateral ties. The presentation also reflects Tokyo’s endorsement of Mahathir, who has professed his willingness to push back against Chinese influence in the region.
Mahathir, 93, is the third Asian leader to receive the Paulownia award, joining former Singapore premier Lee Kuan Yew and former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh.
The Malaysian leader has long been fascinated with Japan: during his first stint as prime minister from 1981-2003 he implemented the “Look East” policy as an answer to the search for alternatives to Western development models. This initiative focused on countries like Japan and South Korea, which Mahathir praised for their labour ethics and management capabilities.
In a 2002 speech, Mahathir noted how Japan had “warded off” Western hegemony and praised its “patriotism, discipline, good work ethics, competent management system and above all the close cooperation between the Government and the private sector”.
Mahathir returned to power after leading the Pakatan Harapan coalition to a shock electoral win in May, ending the six-decade stranglehold of ruling coalition Barisan Nasional.