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Malaysia and the 1959 Antarctic Treaty: a geopolitical interpretation

This paper examines the geopolitics behind the decisions of Malaysia and other major states to embrace the 1959 Antarctic Treaty. By agreeing to accede to the Antarctic Treaty on 12 January 2011, Malaysia has made a 180-degree turn in its Antarctic policy – from being intransigent to seeking engagement – for very good geopolitical reasons. Although science remains the primary trigger, Malaysia’s decision to accede to the Treaty takes cognisance of geography, environment, resources and realpolitik. The credit for revising the Malaysian policy on the Antarctica goes to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad and the current Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Razak. The delay in depositing the instrument of accession is partly due to bureaucratic turf politics. Some junior officials – the Little Napoleons – who are not familiar with Malaysia’s geopolitical considerations have tried to stall the accession process.