US-China tensions: why is Malaysia so quiet about the South China Sea?

Malaysia and Brunei have been less vocal than Vietnam and the Philippines in questioning China’s maritime claims, even after Mike Pompeo’s statement

The Malaysian foreign minister has come under fire for claiming Chinese ships have not intruded into the country’s waters for the past 100 days

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The American aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan on exercises in the South China Sea. Photo: EPA

Published: 7:00am, 18 Jul 2020Updated: 7:40am, 18 Jul 2020

Malaysia’s South China Sea policy has come under the spotlight after a public rebuke of its foreign minister Hishammuddin Hussein by one of his predecessors Anifah Aman, and as Washington hardens its position against Beijing over the disputed waterway.

Anifah, who was foreign minister for nine years until the downfall of ex-leader Najib Razak’s government in the May 2018 election, admonished Hishammuddin on Thursday for saying Chinese ships had not intruded into Malaysian waters for the past 100 days.

Satellite images and sightings clearly indicated otherwise, said Anifah and analysts.

“I am appalled by the [Foreign] Minister’s statement. He is either in denial or ignorant of the fact. Worse, he is playing politics with Malaysia’s maritime and strategic interests,” said Anifah, a serving parliamentarian from Hishammuddin’s party.

Hishammuddin took on his portfolio in March when the Perikatan Nasional coalition came to power following a political scandal that tore apart the Pakatan Harapan administration that won the May 2018 polls. He was previously the defence minister in Najib’s government.

He said on Wednesday that in his first 100 days in office, “Chinese vessels have not been seen in our waters”.

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