KUALA LUMPUR: Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah stressed the need for continuous diplomacy transformation to keep up with 21st century demands.
Sultan Nazrin was delivering his Royal Address at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR), Foreign Ministry, where he is also the IDFR’s Royal Patron.
In his address, he specified that the need to transform and adapt is not something new in diplomacy.
“It has faced this challenge throughout recorded history. It has done so ever since organised political entities began interacting with one another.
“Then as now, the geopolitics, geo-economics and geo-technology of the day have been the primary drivers of transformation.
“Communication technology, especially the technology with which countries and peoples communicate with one another, exerts an especially powerful influence upon the conduct of diplomacy,” he said.
He added that the changes occurring in the environment for diplomacy are extremely important, and have been gaining momentum since the end of the last century.
“It is impossible to ignore them. The changes are already impacting upon the world of diplomacy and becoming the new norm.
“Nations that respond astutely will be able to leverage more effectively the new environment.
“This will entail making appropriate adjustments to the ways in which states formulate foreign policy and conduct diplomacy,” he said.
Sultan Nazrin also pointed out that national interest is best served when diplomats work together with civil society and NGOs to advance shared interests.
“Long-established and reputable cause- and issue-oriented international NGOs such as Amnesty International, CARE International, OXFAM International, Doctors Without Borders, and Mercy Malaysia, all make invaluable contributions to the alleviation of human suffering and the improvement of livelihoods.
“Working with NGOs may not always be easy, especially on the domestic scene. Things can get uncomfortable when governments become sensitive to critical scrutiny by assertive and vocal NGOs.
“This is especially the case in developing countries with authoritarian tendencies or where democratic practices are still evolving. The existence of genuine political and socio-economic issues can aggravate matters further,” he said.
He added that an initial focus by NGOs on non-political and less sensitive areas can help reduce trust deficits, and contribute to a stronger culture of cooperation between government and civil society.
“This can be pursued under the rubric of the Blueprint for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community,” he said.