KOTA KINABALU: Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman has reminded staff of the ministry, especially the 105 posted internationally, of their responsibilities and duties in the six years ahead.
Speaking at the closing of the 8th Heads of Mission Conference here on Saturday, Anifah said that as they enter 2015, Malaysia will be shouldering a heavy responsibility as chairman of ASEAN and in its bid to be a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
“As chairman of ASEAN, Malaysia has to make sure that ASEAN is able to deliver on its target of becoming ‘One Community’ by end of 2015.
“Second, as we become more certain in succeeding in our bid to be a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council from 2015 to 2016, we have to be clear in stating our position on issues as a responsible and credible member of the international community of nations.
“Thirdly, we will be hosting and chairing the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2019, therefore, for the next five to six years, Wisma Putra’s mettle will be tested and we must deliver,” he stressed.
Anifah added that with careful planning and forward thinking, he is confident Wisma Putra will be able to rise to the occasion and he believed the conference had enabled all of the participants from Malaysia’s missions abroad and the headquarters, to develop a keener sense of understanding of the country’s foreign policy and the need to transform its diplomacy in a more concerted, coherent and professional way.
According to him, there is a need to define or redefine Malaysia’s position in international relations once it becomes a developed nation by looking for niche areas that the country excels in that could raise its international standing.
“I believe that the conference has been a two-way traffic in terms of the flow of ideas in creating understanding and awareness of Wisma Putra, the work it does and the challenges it faces in furthering the national interest in a challenging and fast moving international environment,” he said.
Anifah was of the opinion that Wisma Putra needs to look at how best to leverage on the country’s ASEAN, United Nations, OIC and Commonwealth connection and working with like-minded countries to canvass support for Malaysia’s initiatives such as the Global Movement of the Moderates (GMM).
There is much to be done and it seems daunting particularly in view of how low the annual allocation Wisma Putra is given, he pointed out.
“However, I am sure the sessions such as the one with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin have provided some idea on how to strategise your activities so that they are aligned with the national transformation programs.
“We need to stress the fact that only you, the heads of our missions abroad, have the standing in your host countries to open doors for potential partnerships between Malaysia and other countries,” Anifah said.
He also expressed how pleased he was to note that the KPIs he introduced in 2010 and the ministry’s strategic plans are used as ‘living’ strategic management tools in monitoring and measuring the ministry’s performance.
The ministry’s six core strategic objectives, he pointed out, define the work the participants do at the ministry and will assist them to be focused on its core business in line with the government’s and ministry’s transformational agenda.