Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Malaysia)
| Kementerian Luar Negeri (KLN) | |
 | |
| Ministry overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1956 |
| Preceding Ministry | |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Malaysia |
| Headquarters | Wisma Putra, No. 1, Jalan Wisma Putra, Precinct 2, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62602 Putrajaya |
| Employees | 3,286 (2016) |
| Annual budget | MYR 710,513,900 (2016) |
| Minister responsible | |
| Deputy Minister responsible | |
| Ministry executives |
|
| Website |
www |
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Malay: Kementerian Luar Negeri), abbreviated KLN, is a ministry of the Government of Malaysia that is responsible for foreign affairs, Malaysian diaspora, foreigners in Malaysia, diplomacy, foreign relations, counter terrorism, bilateral affairs, multilateral affairs, ASEAN, international protocol, consular services, maritime affairs, chemical weapons.[1] The current ministry is based in Putrajaya with Datuk Seri Anifah Aman as Minister with Reezal Merican Naina Merican as his Deputy Minister. The ministry has its own building called Wisma Putra.
Portfolio responsibilities
- Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR), or Institut Diplomasi dan Hubungan Luar Negeri. (Official site)
- Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT), or Pusat Serantau Asia Tenggara bagi Mencegah Keganasan. (Official site)
- Department of Bilateral Affairs, or Jabatan Hubungan Dua Hala. (Official site)
- Department of Multilateral Affairs, or Jabatan Hubungan Pelbagai Hala. (Official site)
- Department of Management Services, or Jabatan Pengurusan Perkhidmatan. (Official site)
- Asean-Malaysia National Secretariat, or Sekretariat Kebangsaan Asean-Malaysia. (Official site)
- Department of Policy Planning and Coordination, or Jabatan Perancangan Dasar dan Strategi. (Official site)
- Department of Protocol and Consular, or Jabatan Protokol dan Konsular. (Official site)
- Department of Communications and Public Diplomacy, or Jabatan Komunikasi dan Diplomasi Awam. (Official site)
- Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IFDR), or Institut Diplomasi dan Hubungan Luar Negeri. (Official site)
- National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), or Pihak Berkuasa Kebangsaan Konvensyen Senjata Kimia. (Official site)
- Department of Maritime Affairs, or Jabatan Hal Ehwal Maritim. (Official site)
Key legislation
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for administration of several key Acts:
History
The origin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began before Malaysia's independence in 1957. The groundwork for the establishment of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), as it was initially called, was initiated a year prior to Independence particularly with through the training of a batch of eleven diplomats to man the country's diplomatic missions overseas. This pioneering group was trained in the United Kingdom and Australia.[2]
The Ministry of External Affairs was modeled after the British Foreign Office.[2]
Initially, Malaysia had diplomatic missions in London, Washington D.C, Canberra, New York City, New Delhi, Jakarta and Bangkok. In 1963, there were fourteen Malaysian missions and twenty-five countries were represented in Malaysia (four by way of concurrent accreditation).[2]
In 1965, the diplomatic machinery of Malaysia faced its first major reorganisation. In 1966, there was an accelerated growth pattern of the Foreign Ministry particularly with regard to the personnel and the financial allocation for its activities. That year also witnessed a change in the designation of MEA to the preferred terminology of "Ministry of Foreign Affairs" and also saw the physical relocation and consolidation of the Ministry. From its original premises at the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, the Ministry moved to Wisma Putra. The Wisma Putra Complex is based on a combination of both traditional and modern architecture.[2]
Vision
A Foreign Service that effectively contributes towards the attainment of Malaysia's aspirations.
Mission
To uphold Malaysia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, to promote and protect its interests, and to extend effective and efficient services to the Ministry's stakeholders and clients through dynamic and proactive diplomacy.
Functions
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs bears the mandate and responsibility to conduct Malaysia's foreign relations with other countries. This includes matters related to political relations, economic affairs, security matters, and social and cultural promotion. The Ministry is geared towards fulfilling its role and functions:
- upholding, protecting and promoting Malaysia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests;
- monitoring and analysing regional and global developments;
- developing and advising the Government on foreign policy options;
- coordinating a coherent position on internaitional issues with other Ministries and Agencies;
- providing consular services and assistance within the limits permitted by international law;
- articulating the Government's foreign policy positions; and
- facilitating other Ministries and Agencies in their international engagement.
Legal Framework
The External Affairs Legislations that fall within the purview of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are:
- Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oaths and Fees) Act 1959 (Revised 1988) [Act 348];
- Diplomatic Privileges (Vienna Convention) Act 1966 [Act 636];
- Consular Relations (Vienna Convention) Act 1999 [Act 595];
- Foreign Representative (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1967 (Revised 1995) [Act 541];
- International Organisations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1992 [Act 485]; and
- Chemical Weapons Convention Act 2005 [Act 641].
In addition, the Federal Constitution allows Parliament to make laws related to external affairs that include:
- Treaties, agreements and conventions with other countries and all matters which bring the Federation into relations with any other country;
- Implementation of treaties, agreements and conventions with other countries;
- Diplomatic, consular and trade representation;
- International organisations; participation in international bodies and implementation of decisions taken thereat;
- Extradition, fugitive offenders; admission into, and emigration and expulsion from, the Federation;
- Passports, visas, permits of entry or other certificates, quarantine;
- Foreign and extraterritorial jurisdiction; and
- Pilgrimage to places outside Malaysia.
List of Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
|---|---|
| Style | Yang Berhormat Menteri (The Honourable Minister) |
| Member of | Cabinet of Malaysia |
| Reports to | Parliament of Malaysia |
| Seat | Level 3, Wisma Putra, No. 1, Jalan Wisma Putra, Precinct 2, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62602 Putrajaya |
| Appointer | Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Malaysia |
| Formation | 31 August 1957 |
| First holder | Tunku Abdul Rahman |
| Website |
www |
The following is a list of former and current Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs.:[3]
| № | Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs | Term of Office | Prime Minister (Cabinet) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) Constituency |
Political Party | Took Office | Left Office | ||
| 1 | Tunku Abdul Rahman | Alliance (UMNO) | 31 August 1957 | 2 February 1959 | Tunku Abdul Rahman (I) | |
| Federal Minister of External Affairs | ||||||
| 2 | Ismail Abdul Rahman | Alliance (UMNO) | 3 February 1959 | 31 August 1960 | Tunku Abdul Rahman (II) | |
| (1) | Tunku Abdul Rahman | Alliance (UMNO) | 1 September 1960 | 22 September 1970 | Tunku Abdul Rahman (II · III · IV) | |
| 3 | Abdul Razak Hussein | Alliance (UMNO) | 23 September 1970 | 12 August 1975 | Abdul Razak Hussein (I · II) | |
| (3) | BN (UMNO) | |||||
| 4 | Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail | BN (UMNO) | 13 August 1975 | 16 July 1981 | Abdul Razak Hussein (II) Hussein Onn (I · II) | |
| 5 | Ghazali Shafie | BN (UMNO) | 17 July 1981 | 16 July 1984 | Mahathir Mohamad (I · II) | |
| (4) | Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail | BN (UMNO) | 17 July 1984 | 10 August 1986 | Mahathir Mohamad (II) | |
| 6 | Abu Hassan Omar | BN (UMNO) | 20 May 1987 | 14 March 1991 | Mahathir Mohamad (III · IV) | |
| 7 | Abdullah Ahmad Badawi | BN (UMNO) | 15 March 1991 | 8 January 1999 | Mahathir Mohamad (IV · V) | |
| 8 | Syed Hamid Albar | BN (UMNO) | 9 January 1999 | 18 March 2008 | Mahathir Mohamad (VI) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (I · II) | |
| 9 | Rais Yatim | BN (UMNO) | 19 March 2008 | 8 April 2009 | Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (III) | |
| 10 |  |
Anifah Aman | BN (UMNO) | 9 April 2009 | Incumbent | Najib Razak (I · II) |
Notes
- ↑ "Functions". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
- 1 2 3 4 "Brief History of Wisma Putra". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
- ↑ "Former Ministers". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
