KUALA LUMPUR, 2 NOVEMBER - Malaysia, the biggest nation in the Commonwealth after the United Kingdom, has suddenly decided to leave the international forum.
The Prime Minister, with previous history of leaving the United Nations, announces that the government will table a withdrawal bill to the Dewan Negara. Malaysia's usual non-rebellious act on the United Kingdom now seems to implicitly disappear by a deadlock, with their foreign policy decision turning its back on the government.
Malaysia is a country, once ruled by the British Empire, a member of the Commonwealth in the present day. The presence of the country has influenced the international forum. The presence of Malaysia has strengthened relations with not just the United Kingdom, but with other countries in the Commonwealth. Despite some countries having concern with the presence of the United Kingdom, Malaysia has succeeded in forming bilateral relationship with those countries. Even with those bilateral relationships, Malaysia and the United Kingdom assisted each other especially in their toughest times, during the gang surge of 2020, the United States-United Kingdom war, and the Malaysia-Sarawak war.
However, the recent political landscape of the United Kingdom puts this relationship at risk. The deposition of King George and the previous British government has left nations in the Commonwealth, including Malaysia, with dangerous decisions; to support the government-in-exile or pledge their suppport for King Robert.
Other countries have either made passive or decisive moves, with Ireland, which granted the government-in-exile a diplomatic asylum, condemning strongly of the United Kingdom. India intended to leave the Commonwealth, however the decision was quickly reversed. The political landscape of the United Kingdom puts years-long foreign relations at risk, proving how influencial the United Kingdom is, despite this issue being a domestic issue.
Now, Malaysia has taken the decisive move. After attempts to stay neutral and trying to remain in the Commonwealth, it seems that it is no longer possible. Malaysia has decided to leave the Commonwealth as an absolute way to affirm their neutrality; to lay their support on neither.
"It is to be made aware that the current Malaysian Government holds onto a neutral foreign policy. Hence, the Malaysian Government will withdraw itself from the Commonwealth of Nations to avoid any unwanted and unnecessary issues that might affect the policy we stand by," the statement reads.
Despite their departure from the Commonwealth, it assures the public that their withdrawal will not affect their bilateral relationship with the United Kingdom and would still be in alliance with the United Kingdom. Malaysia will have to work extra hard to prove this is the case. A straining relationship, or an understanding one.
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