Summer2014final1

2014

Sabah Run for the Cure Spring 2014

The Newsletter of the Friends of Malaysia, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers that served in Malaysia 1962-1983 http://FriendsofMalaysia.org Thaine H. Allison, Jr. Editor

SQUEAKS FROM THE CHAIR We also have been fortunate to have board members who quite often go back to President Barry Morris Malaysia to visit the country. Another of our board members, Michael Anderson, was Friends of Malaysia is pleased to announce that recently in the country and as part of his Dr. Marjorie Harrison, one of our current board visit, was able to make a donation in person members, has been elected to serve as the Asia to the Malaysian Cancer Society from the and Pacific Region representative to the Friends of Malaysia. A separate article National Peace Corps Association Board of about his visit is included in the newsletter.

Directors. Marjorie is carrying on in the footsteps of Paul Murphy who also served in In other news, we are making progress this capacity a few years ago. Paul is now a towards updating our Friends of Malaysia board member emeritus to the National Peace website. Also, we are looking into the Corps Association in Washington. We are very possibility of partnering with the Malaysianproud that we have been able to continue as an American Society out of Washington active organization in the NPCA and will regarding future endeavors. Finally, we are continue to have a strong voice on the also exploring projects that would assist in governing board. efforts to further prevent the loss of Marjorie will also be attending the Peace Corps biocultural diversity that is going on in Malaysia.

Connect national conference being held June By

19-21 in Nashville, Tennessee and would be happy to talk to any of our Friends of Malaysia members attending the conference. This is the third national conference to be held in the past few years and we have been fortunate to have been represented at each one.

1

If anyone is attended the Peace Corps Connect national conference in Nashville, please contact me Barry Morris at: conway162@yahoo.com. We would like your feed back on the conference.

We believe Carrie will bring her unique set of skills, sensibility and sensitivity to her new position, just as she has demonstrated in her long career as a public servant and leader in the field of international development.” (One of Acting Director and Returned Peace Corps Hessler-Radelet’s first public appearances as Volunteer Carrie Hessler-Radelet was confirmed Peace Corps Director will come in two weeks, when she appears at Peace Corps Connect – as the new Peace Corps Director today in the Nashville on Saturday, June 21, 2014.

Senate by a unanimous, voice vote. After

CARRIE HESSLER-RADELET CONFIRMED AS 19TH PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR

months of delay, the United States Senate today confirmed Carrie Hessler-Radelet to become the 19th Director of the Peace Corps.

FRIENDS OF MALAYSIA FUNDS HELP FIGHT BREAST CANCER By Michael H. Anderson, Board Member

The Friends of Malaysia (FOM) has donated US$1,100 to help the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) -- Persatuan Kebangsaan Kanser Malaysia -- improve breast cancer awareness through education, care and support. The funds were specifically used by the NCSM in April, 2014 to help support the non-governmental organization’s “Curb Cancer Campaign.” Twenty-nine low-income Director and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer women in the Kampong Baru area of Kuala Lumpur benefitted by receiving free digital 3D Carrie Hessler-Radelet mammogram, breast ultrasound and clinical Nominated by President Obama last July, Hesslerbreast examination procedures. (Continued Radelet served as Acting Director of the agency since page 4) September, 2012. She was confirmed as Peace Corps’ Deputy Director in June, 2010.

She is the fifth woman to serve as Director, and is also the fifth Returned Peace Corps Volunteer to lead the agency. She and her husband Steve served in Samoa from 1981-83. Howard and Ruth Pearsall, joined the Peace Corps after retiring as university professors and served in Malaysia from 1972 to 1973.“Today is a very good day for the Peace Corps,” said NPCA President Glenn Blumhorst (Guatemala 1988-91). “The Senate vote to confirm Carrie Hessler-Radelet now allows her to advance a forward-moving agenda for the 7,000 volunteers currently serving and the many who will follow.

(Continued) 2

Sudhaharan Nair accepts a check from Board member Michael H. Anderson

MEGA DAMS IN SABAH AND SARAWAK PROVOKE CONTROVERSY AND ANGER by Thaine H. Allison, Jr. North Borneo/Sarawak I 1962-64 As an Assistant Agricultural Officer, located in Bandau (Kota Marudu) Kudat District one of my forst assignments from my new boss, Mr. Duri, was to move materials up stream to build a small diversion dam to irrigate plots of rice and other crops in area west of the Bandau River. I worked closely over those two years with a surveyor, Mr Fernando, who was designing irrigation schemes througout the Bandau Plane. This experience led me to my Masters and PhD work in Agricultural Economics and water resource development.

Somewhere there is a masters thesis Using Economic Base Theory in water Resource Development and a PhD dissertation The Value of Irrigation Water to Central Washington Farmers. I mention this because I speak with some authority about the developing issues surrounding the large dam construction in Sabah and Sarawak (http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/265791 and http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/ 2456534/borneo_megadams_threaten_indigenous _ethnocide.html ). One of the books that made up my literature search is by Elmer T. Peterson Big Dam Foolishness (http://books.google.com/books/about/Big_dam_f oolishness.html?id=5ANSAAAAMAAJ) As humans we evolve slowly and part of the problem is we don't learn from others mistakes very well. Currently there is a Kickstarter campaign underway by RPCV Ernie Turner who has conducted leadership training for indigenous leaders in Miri at the request of Dyak leaders.

These sessions focused on helping longhouse people understand the consequences of megadams and production of a series of videos on the 3

Bakum Dam provides power to large urban areas displacing local people from their lands

various aspects of the changes brought by building these dams. The first Borneo Project video is available in the Kickstarter link. I personally and professionally think that there are social and economic arguments on both sides of these issues, having said that I also think that the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak are not being given a voice or not being heard in this debate and I therefore support the development of educational tools as outlined by the Borneo Society and the videos proposed by the Kickstarter campaign(https://www.kickstarter.com/pro jects/borneorivers/borneo-mega-dam-filmseries ). Time is short so take a look at the possibilities and consider making a difference once again with your donation.

Twelve mega-dams planned for Sarawak

FOM, an association of former Peace Corps Volunteers who served in Malaysia, established the breast cancer fund with voluntary member donations. The purpose was to give back to Malaysia and honor two former volunteers who died of breast cancer -- Karen Bowlsby Perez Grayson and Sherry Zembower, who both loved Malaysia and never forgot their Peace Corps experiences. Karen served in Malaysia in 1964-65 and went on to become a teacher in the Los Angeles area. She passed away in April, 2003. Part of Group 24 in Sarawak from 196971, Sherry devoted a great deal of time to the FOM, which she served as co-founder, President and a Member of the Board of Directors. She died in January, 2005 in Colorado Springs after a long career spent as a social worker and youth counselor.

Over the years, the FOM has used money from the fund to support grass-roots community service projects around Malaysia. The latest gift was turned over to NCSM General Manager Sudhaharan Nair and several staff members during a March 5, 2014 meeting at the NCSM’s headquarters near the General Hospital in Kuala Lumpur. FOM was represented by Board Member Mike Anderson, a Group 20 volunteer in Sungai Petani, Kedah, and Kuala Lumpur from 1968-71 who now lives in Arlington, VA. In presenting the FOM check, Mike told the NCSM representatives about the purpose of FOM and its breast cancer fund and gave the organization a U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur-produced history of the more than 4,000 Americans who were privileged to serve as Peace Corps Volunteers in Malaysia between 1962-83.

“We learned much from our work and cross-cultural experiences in Malaysia, and we want to stay in touch with the country and its people,” Mike explained. “The FOM actively supports the stillrelevant Peace Corps ideals of community service and mutual understanding through people-to-people ties.” In accepting FOM’s donation, Sudhaharan thanked the FOM for its generosity and its (Continued) 4

members for their service. He explained the NCSM’s goals and services, and warmly recalled that he personally benefited from the services of two Peace Corps teachers when he was a high school student in Muar, Johore, around 1970-73. He even remembered the volunteers’ names – Thomas Cronin and Barbara Ray.

CONTRIBUTIONS BY FRIENDS OF MALAYSIA

By Paul Murphy, FoM Treasurer

The Friends of Malaysia has donated almost $13,000 plus thousands in non-cash donations to nonprofit organizations over the years. We have donated funds to a wide variety of Malaysian causes. However, because the former FoM President, Sherry Zembower, and Karen Bowlsby, a FoM member, died of breast cancer, we have concentrated our donations on breast cancer awareness efforts. The following link provides a a summary of our cumulative donations as of April 30, 2014: http://issuu.com/thainehallisonjr/docs/fom _contributions-1/0

Help With Web Site Redeployment By Thaine H. Allison, Jr., Board Member

Seven years ago our webmaster passed away suddenly and I was delegated the task of maintaining the Friends of Malaysia web site.

Over the years I have managed to make some up dates and keep it running, but we all know it is out of date technically(programming stuff) aesthetically, and content wise. Over the last couple of years we, the board, have worked with an outside contractor trying to bring FoM into the modern digital age.

(Continued Page 8)

PAUL WACHTEL SOCHACZEWSKI’S ”AN INORDINATE FONDNESS FOR BEETLES”

Australia Ocean (marsupials). He also identified differences among the peoples. Wallace also wrote a paper called the Sarawak Line about evolution and natural selection in 1858.

By

Ruth Zwirner

He wrote over 1,000 papers and 22 books and shared some papers with Darwin. Darwin, who was funded by the establishment and the Linnaen society, has become credited with the theory of natural selection. However, Wallace developed the idea that human consciousness and moral sense were not random phenomena.

Needless to say this is still a topic of interest and Paul has done a good job in providing some historical background on Wallace and his ideas.

On May 9, at the Singapore Embassy in Washinton D.C., Ambassador Ashok Kumar Mirpuri and his wife Gouri, welcomed over 120 persons to a presentation by Paul Wachtel Sochaczewski (Group 24) titled “An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles” about Alfred Russel Wallace. Five FOM board members, and at least five other returned volunteers were in attendance. Paul has spent much of the last forty years working in SE Asia.

He often carried Wallace’s book The Malay Archipelago as he traveled in the area.

Who was Wallace? Why don’t we know more about him? What is the Wallace line? Why did Darwin get so much credit even though they traveled and worked at similar time? Wallace left school at age 14 working for his brother in England and Scotland where he became passionate about collecting and studying beetles. He identified 1,000 different species. Nine years later, in 1848 he went exploring into the Amazon. He wrote, collected insect and bird specimens over a four year period. Most of his collection was lost in a ship fire as he returned to England. Regardless, he wrote several papers and books about his Amazon experiences.

When he went to Southeast Asia in 1854 he explored on his own, not supported financially and was taken ‘under wing’ by the Rajah, James Brooke. Wallace, over the course of eight years collected and identified over 110,000 insects ( including 200 species of ants), 7,500 shells, 8,050 bird skins, 410 mammal and reptile specimens which he identified. A ‘line’ , now called the Wallace Line, which was the area of a deep geologic trench separated the flora and fauna of Asia (Orangutans, monkeys) from 5

Paul’s most recent book, An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles was available, check it out! Available from Amazon.com After Paul’s presentation we went out for a good makan.

A number of Malaysian RPCVs and friends attended the May 9th Singapore Embassy event in Washington, DC. Photo (L to R) shows Lynn Juhl, Rod Zwirner, Amanda Graves-Scott, Mike Anderson, Anne Howes, Marjorie Harrison and Ruth Zwirner swapping memories of their Malaysian experiences.

Paul with Ruth and the wife of our host Singapore Ambassador Ashok Kumar Mirpuri

PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS AT BAU GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL THEN AND NOW By Francis Johen Adam It was in early January 1966 when I first entered Bau Government Secondary School (fondly known then by its abbreviation BGGS, pronounced the “bee gees") to pursue my secondary education in Form 1. BGSS then was the only secondary school in Bau District, and those of us who passed the Common Entrance Examination for Primary 6 the previous year while at St. Stephen's Primary School, Bau were all selected to go to this boarding school.

BGSS was about two miles out from Bau town, linked by a narrow and winding gravel road. There was a bus service along this road, but normally, we would walk on foot from Bau town to this school or from school to town as we had little pocket money for bus fare.

BGSS had classes for students from Form 1 to Form 5 only. Among my, former classmates at BGSS were Dilol, Godeb, Paul Vincent, Tiki (now Dato Dr Tiki Lafe), Gines, Ng Nyuk Chin, Chew Wai Ho, Liew Sze Ching, Goh 'Chin Jin, Low Nyet Moi, Frankie Anam, Jaol, Mikeng (now deceased, since 1 September 2009). Boarding students were housed in five school hostels, each named after a bird in Sarawak: Eagle, Starling, Swift, Kingfisher and Drongo.

We slept on wooden bunks with only a simple mat and pillow. The principal of BGSS then was Peter Eaton, an Englishman. He lived at the School Principal's quarters in the school compound with his wife, Mavis and two children, Jane and Mark.

During my student days at BGSS from 1966 - July 4, 1969, there were several other foreigners teaching at the school, including George Abraham from 6

India who taught Science; Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) teachers John McClay and his wife Karen, Bruce Felton, Jack Rhodes and his wife Nancy Koo and Jim McKinley; and volunteer teachers from Canada such as Bill Atkinson (who taught Math) and Ms Edwards (who taught General Science). In 1968 Mathew Warrier (an ex-Josephian, now residing in Perth) took over as Principal of BGSS from Eaton. The McClays were in their mid-20s when they were posted to BGSS for two years from 1966 to 1967. John was our English teacher in Form 1. He was tall and handsome, played the guitar well and taught us folk songs like “Blowing in the Wind”, “100 Miles”, “Tom Dooley”, “Edelweiss”, among many others during music class.

Karen was of medium height and of fair complexion. She was our Form Teacher for Class 1B, and also our history teacher. They lived in the teachers' quarters, not far from our student hostels. Among the pleasant memories I recalled sharing with them were borrowing and reading classic comic books (which they brought from the US), and watching slides of photos they took on their visits to villages in Bau area.

On a few lucky occasions, they invited us to share popcorn in their Peace Corps house.The McClays first introduced us to the world of pen-pals, by encouraging students at BGSS to correspond with students from secondary schools in their home state Minnesota, thereby indirectly promoting international friendship, goodwill and opportunity to share information and personal experiences among students from BGSS and those schools in the US. One important event I vividly recall in mid1966 was when our Class Form IB won the inter-class cleaning competition at BGSS. The prize was a free study trip to Kuching for 40 students in the class, with Karen as teacher in (Continued)

charge. We chartered a bus from Bau, then took the ferry at Batu Kitang (as there was no bridge then), before proceeding to Kuching. We visited the Sarawak Museum, the Green Spot factory at 7th Mile Bazaar, Fujisan Bakery at Sekama Road and were given pocket money for lunch at the Open Air Market in Kuching.

It was an educational, memorable and enjoyable trip, because that was also the first visit to Kuching town for some of us. The McClays left Sarawak in 1968 to take up a teaching post in Thailand, and a few years later they returned to the US to continue their studies and teaching careers. Karen (now known as Karen Flolid after she remarried to Buzz Flolid) is now retired and living in Minnesota.

to have lived there among such warm, generous, wonderful students, staff and faculty at BGSS. Please pass this message on to anyone/everyone from my past who contributed to my feeling this way and would be pleased to know how I feel.

Each of you/them have/has served as magical gifts in my life and it is important to me that you/they know that." As testimony of her close attachment to to Sarawak, Karen first registered her car in Wisconsin with the word "SARAWAK", but later had to give up the plate number when she moved to Minnesota. She could not get "Kuching" for her car, but later managed to register it with the word "BORNEO".

Karen kept in touch through letters and emails with a few former teachers (like Mr Mikel) and students of BGSS. In 2007, Karen was among a group of former PCVs who were invited by the Malaysian Government to join in the Merdeka celebration on Aug. 31, 2007 in Kuala Lumpur. The following week, Karen visited Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and then spent a week in Kuching and Bau in September 2007. Mikeng and In her latest email to me dated Aug 29, 2012, myself were privileged to assist with her visit in Karen shared how she became interested to be Kuching and Bau. Karen was pleased to visit the a PCV, why she chose to go to Malaysia and her former BGSS school (now renamed as SMK Bau), experiences and feelings after having served for where she met with Paul Abui, the Senior Assistant two years in BGSS and Sarawak, as follows: Teacher, who presented her with the SMK Bau school "When I was in primary 4, we studied about magazine ' Menara' as a memento. people of many different lands. The people BGSS had changed a lot with many new buildings and who interested me the most were the 'Orang student hostels, now connected with a tar-sealed Asli' of the' Malayan Peninsula. I said to myself road to the main school compound. But some older that one day I would meet with them. I was buildings that existed in the 1960s like the fortunate enough to do so nearly 20 years later. classrooms, teachers and principal office, school When Pres. Kennedy started the Peace Corps, I dining hall, and school football field are still there. was 22 years old. I knew this was my While in Bau, Karen stayed with Mikeng's family at opportunity. I joined at age 25 to follow my Kampung Suba, Bau and visited Mikeng's parents' dream. I chose Malaysia as the pastor of my house at Karnpung Duyoh and Kukut's house at church said I'd love it there and he was soooo Kampo.ng Serasot, Bau. Karen also visited Sarawak right! It was my good fortune to be assigned to Cheshire Home in Kuching.

BGGS. The peoples of the Bau area (and Malaysia as a nation) are so diverse and rich in In an email to me dated June 5, 2012, Karen wrote: "I religions, languages, cuisines, customs, art am so lonesome for Malaysia and especially forms, skills and so on. I was sent to teach you Sarawak/Kuching and Bau areas .... I feel so blessed 7

and soon discovered that you would teach me much more than I could ever teach you. Your presence in my life has enriched every single day since I left in early 1968. (Luckily I returned in 1974 on holiday from my teaching assignment in Thailand, again in 2000 to western Malaysia only and most recently at the time of celebration of Malaysia's independence from GB).

I have found you to be kind, generous, thoughtful and patient people. You are one of the most precious gifts I have received in my life. You have in so many positive and wonderfully thought-provoking ways influenced my daily view of the world around me.

Faculty of BGSS School 1974 Truly, I cannot say 'Thank you' enough for what you have given to me. Some of my most cherished memories are of makans (especially curries) in the (Continued from Page 4) We have bazaar, weekends in the kampongs (especially developed a social media presence, a new Gawai), celebrations of Chinese New Year in the logo and designed a new web site. We are bazaar, wedding celebrations, Fanta with bazaar now at the point of attacking the technical shopkeepers, shopping in the market, swimming in programming. While I had some experience Tai Parit Lake, cooking lessons/exchanges with with the old programming language the latest female faculty at BGSS, Indian (Mrs. Abraham), web page soft ware is beyond my pay grade Dayak (Julia Atkinson-school matron), Chinese (Ho as they say. We need a programmer and Soon Ching who married Mr Ng), school assemblies resources to move this along. Individual singing the Malaysian National and Sarawak state board members have helped with the anthems plus 'Edelweiss' from The Sound of Music checking of links etc but now we need an and another student favorite at the time, 'Pearly actual web developer. We set aside limited Shells' by the ocean. The field trips to Kuching to see funds from our treasury to help get the work 'The Sound of Music', the tour of the airplane at the done but have been unable to find a suitable airport, the tour of the Fanta bottling company. My programmer to work with. home is filled with daily reminders of you all ... framed batiks and photos, beaded hats, woven We need your help in finding a college fabrics, colorful sarongs, Dayak baskets, hornbill and student or free lancer that will assist us at hantu wood carvings, bells, drums, kites, pewter and Peace Corps rates. Perhaps you know some pottery flower vases, bed linens and so on...� one, have a family member that is pandi or even skillful yourself. Also money spent on Karen may be contacted by email at: the web site takes away from our service karbuz2@boreal.org This article appeared in the projects so perhaps you would care to donate Borneo Post 7 April 2012 specifically to help with the web site programing. Send me your thoughts and ideas. Money goes to our treasurer Paul Murphy. I would love to hear from you if you have ideas or thoughts. Thanks Thaine ThaineAllison@gmail.com 8

CONFESSIONS OF A MALAYSIA GROUPIE by Barry Morris, President Friends of Malaysia Johor Bahru, 1970-73 When I was younger, I thought I would grow out of my experiences in Malaysia. I thought Malaysia would slowly fade into the background and I would no longer think much about it. I’m afraid that hasn’t happened. There probably are very few days when something about Malaysia doesn’t flash into my mind. Of course, being involved with the Friends of Malaysia group for roughly 20 years hasn’t helped.

But have I ever moved on from the experience of being there: not at all. There are some former Malaysian PCVs that I know that actually do seem to have moved on with their lives, but not me.

Why is this? I think for me it was my first taste of real freedom and a time when there was just so much to observe and witness that couldn’t have happened in the United States. Today, I live in a neighborhood of mostly older homes in a small town of around 2,000.

I wouldn’t say my neighbors are unfriendly, but mostly they just seem to concentrate on their own lives. We exchange pleasantries at times, but that’s about it. For me, living in Malaysia was constantly meeting people and having one little mini-adventure after another. Sometimes someone would just knock on my apartment door because they heard I was from America and they had a relative living somewhere in America. I’m sure you had that experience also.

The intensity of all the things happening around me while living in Johor Bahru was astonishing. It was just such a fascinating time to be living in that part of the world. In the capital city of Saigon, the closest national capital to Kuala Lumpur, a war was raging and you would hardly know it living in Malaysia.

The politics of Malaysia were never a very good model for many of us, but life on the streets was full of sights and sounds and smells we were unlikely to experience elsewhere. Even though the weather was hot and sticky, personally I seemed to get a bit used to it and having a motorcycle helped in getting around the area. I suppose I just learned to do things when the day wasn’t quite at its hottest.

9

I always liked the way the writer Paul Theroux described his service in the Peace Corps: “ We stayed a while, and then we left them. And yet I think I would do it again. At an uncertain time in my life I joined. And up to a point – they gave me a lot of rope – the Peace Corps allowed me to be myself. I realized that it was much better to be neglected than manipulated, and I had learned that you make your own life.”

Perhaps someday, I will think less often about this place where I was fortunate enough to live for a while, but at this point, it seems unlikely.

Who needs a tattoo when the experiences you have had are always there not lurking very far beneath the surface.

PRESIDENT OBAMA VISITS MALAYSIA APRIL 26-28, 2014 Local Press Reaction

JOINT STATEMENT by PRESIDENT OBAMA and PRIME MINISTER NAJIB of MALAYSIA

Political and Diplomatic Cooperation

The Prime Minister and the President welcomed the increasing high-level interaction between the two countries in recent years, The Honorable Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, including the numerous Cabinet-level Prime Minister of Malaysia and The Honorable Barack exchanges of visits, and encouraged continued dialogue at various levels. Both sides also Obama, President of the United States of America committed to reinvigorate the Malaysia – U.S. held a bilateral meeting on 27 April 2014 in Putrajaya, Senior Officials Dialogue as a key forum to Malaysia. pursue the implementation of the Comprehensive Partnership through regular The two leaders reflected on the historic nature of consultations.

President Obama’s State Visit to Malaysia, the first Presidential visit in 48 years, and the resilience of The Prime Minister appreciated the United bilateral relations between Malaysia and the United States’ presence in Asia which contributes to States. Both leaders reaffirmed their mutual peace, stability and prosperity in the region. commitment to further enhance Malaysia – U.S. President Obama reiterated the United States’ engagement on issues of bilateral, regional and strong support for the Association of South international importance.

East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the importance of East Asian regional institutions. President Reflecting on the search for missing flight MH370 Obama also welcomed Malaysia’s upcoming which carried passengers and crew from 14 nations, chairmanship of ASEAN in 2015 and expressed including Malaysia and the United States, the Prime confidence that under Malaysia’s stewardship, Minister expressed Malaysia’s gratitude to President ASEAN would further its regional ambition of Obama for the United States' unwavering support. economic integration.

Malaysia is heartened by the presence of the United The Prime Minister and the President States from day one in the ongoing operations to acknowledged the importance of peace and locate flight MH370. The support received stability for the security and economic exemplifies the strong ties of friendship and prosperity of nations. The leaders exchanged cooperation between the two countries. views on recent developments in the South Recognizing the growing cooperation between the China Sea and affirmed the importance of two countries in a wide range of areas, Prime Minister safeguarding maritime security and ensuring Najib and President Obama decided to elevate the freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region, including critical Malaysia – U.S. relationship to a Comprehensive waterways in the South China Sea. The two Partnership with the aim of advancing the two countries’ common interests and the shared values of leaders underscored the importance of all the people of the United States and Malaysia. Under parties concerned resolving their territorial and maritime disputes through peaceful means, the Comprehensive Partnership, both countries including international arbitration, as commit to further strengthening dialogue warranted, and in accordance with universally mechanisms in key areas including political and recognized principles of international law, diplomatic cooperation, trade and investment, including the United Nations Convention on the education and people-to-people ties, security and Law of the Sea. The two leaders highlighted the defense cooperation, as well as collaboration on the importance of all parties concerned avoiding environment, science and technology, and energy. the use of force, intimidation, or coercion, and exercising self-restraint in the conduct of activities. (Continued) 10

The Prime Minister and the President reaffirmed the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in enhancing mutual trust and confidence amongst all parties concerned and recognized the need for ASEAN and China to work expeditiously towards the establishment of an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

The two leaders underscored their commitment to promoting respect for human rights, as well as the importance of a vibrant and independent civil society consistent with the Charter of the United Nations and international human rights law. Respect for diversity, respect for the freedom to express different views and practice different faiths, respect for all religions and respect for the rights of all in the populations are essential to healthy and prosperous democracies.

Both leaders welcomed efforts to promote tolerance and inter-faith understanding and counter violence and extremism. In relation to this, the two leaders also appreciated the goals of the Global Movement of Moderates to promote greater understanding and moderation among people of all faiths by expanding government-to-government and people-to-people engagement.

President Obama commended Malaysia’s leading role in facilitating the Southern Philippines Bangsamoro peace process that led to the recent signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

Both leaders welcomed the bilateral work agreement on the gainful employment of spouses of embassy and consulate officials which provides benefits for diplomatic families of both sides as well as the host country.

Economic and Trade Cooperation Prime Minister Najib and President Obama celebrated the strong economic links between Malaysia and the United States, including bilateral trade amounting to U.S. $40 billion annually. Prime 11

Minister Najib and President Obama applauded the progress made so far in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations. They reaffirmed their commitment to work together to resolve the remaining issues and conclude the highstandard agreement as soon as possible so that both countries’ businesses, workers, farmers, and consumers could begin benefitting. Both leaders also discussed the importance of enhancing multilateral cooperation to promote trade, investment and inclusive growth in fora such as ASEAN, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Noting that the United States was the largest source of foreign investment in Malaysia in 2013, the Prime Minister acknowledged the beneficial and significant role of U.S. investors in the development of Malaysia’s economy.

This close cooperation has resulted in support for Malaysian Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) through linkages between U.S. companies and Malaysian SMEs, sharing technology, promoting innovation and contributing to Malaysia’s economic transformation agenda.

The President similarly highlighted the United States’ openness to foreign investment, and noted the mutually beneficial nature of Malaysian investment in the United States.

The President encouraged Malaysian participation in SelectUSA, a U.S. Government initiative to promote and facilitate inbound business investment and a key partner and support system for potential Malaysian investors, including SMEs, seeking investment opportunities in the United States.

Both leaders emphasized the importance of a strong intellectual property rights regime, to promote innovation and for the mutual benefit of innovators and consumers. Such a regime has already helped support investments in new growth areas (Continued)

including in emerging and high technology sectors as well as high value-added, knowledge-based and skills-intensive industries which should generate more high income job opportunities in both countries and support Malaysia’s aspiration to become a developed nation by the year 2020. The two leaders expressed confidence that the ongoing economic reforms in Malaysia and the economic recovery of the United States would accelerate economic growth, opening greater opportunities for trade and creating employment in both countries.

Education and People-to-People Recognizing people-to-people relations as the foundation of strong bilateral ties, the two leaders affirmed their shared intention to foster better understanding, goodwill and friendship between the peoples of both countries.

Reflecting the Prime Minister and President Obama’s shared aspiration to enhance people-to-people interaction first discussed in 2010, the two leaders celebrated the success of the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program. Likening the spirit of the Fulbright ETA program to the Peace Corps program, which ran for two decades in Malaysia, Prime Minister Najib and President Obama announced that the governments of Malaysia and the United States have extended the Fulbright ETA Program for another three years.

The two leaders applauded the network of eight Lincoln Corners in six different Malaysian states and Kuala Lumpur that host hundreds of educational programs and promote connections between Malaysia and the United States. Both leaders also recognized the value of sharing the rich cultural heritages of our two countries through exchanges of displays in art galleries and museums in both countries.

The Prime Minister and President Obama welcomed the establishment of the Malaysia-America Foundation and the exploring of opportunities to establish sister city relationships between the two sides.

12

Prime Minister Najib and President Obama acknowledged that university level linkages between the United States and Malaysia continue to grow. Both sides encouraged the expansion of research and study partnerships between U.S. and Malaysian institutions of higher education.

Both leaders emphasized the importance of youth empowerment, particularly in promoting entrepreneurship, environmental protection, education, and civic participation in Malaysia and across the region, including through such programs as the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC) and activities under the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI).

Defense and Security President Obama welcomed Malaysia’s commitment to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction with the endorsement of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Statement of Interdiction Principles.

The two leaders reaffirmed the longstanding military-to-military cooperation between Malaysia and the United States which provides a solid foundation for enhancements across a broad front. Both leaders acknowledged the value of continuous dialogue on regional and global security challenges as well as coordination on military matters through the Malaysia – U.S. Strategic Talks (MUSST) and the Bilateral Training and Consultative Group (BiTACG).

Prime Minister Najib and President Obama decided to continue discussions on (Continued)

opportunities for practical future cooperation in the maritime domain, including ways the United States could support the development of Malaysia’s maritime enforcement capacity through the provision of training, equipment and expertise.

President Obama applauded Malaysia’s troop contributions to peacekeeping in United Nations missions, including in Afghanistan and Lebanon and thanked Malaysia for its successful deployment of a military medical team in Afghanistan. Both sides committed to strengthen cooperation in peacekeeping training under the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) and welcomed U.S. support for the Malaysian Peacekeeping Training Centre.

meeting the statutory requirements for participation in the Visa Waiver Program. As a first step, the United States has committed to provide technical briefings on security requirements and information sharing agreements this year.

interoperability between the two armed forces.

Environment, Science and Technology, and Energy Cooperation

Recalling the Memorandum of Understanding on Transnational Crime signed by both sides in 2012, the two leaders look forward to convening the inaugural Joint Working Group Meeting to review the efficiency and effectiveness of our law enforcement cooperation.

The two leaders decided that Malaysia and the United States would strengthen The two leaders welcomed the expansion of ties between the defense industries of Malaysia and the cooperation in humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and management, including United States, which contribute to Malaysia’s exploring capacity building initiatives to economic development. Both sides committed to work further to nurture and deepen defence bilateral increase preparedness in handling natural and man-made disasters. engagements, including promoting the Malaysia and the United States noted with satisfaction the progress in various ongoing scientific sectors, including cooperation to raise awareness and capacity in biosecurity laboratories and research facilities in Malaysia dealing with biological threats.

These activities reflect a shared commitment to the Global Health Security Agenda, which seeks to accelerate progress toward a world safe and secure from threats posed by infectious disease.

The Prime Minister and President Obama welcomed the active cooperation between Malaysia and the United States in science and technology following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Science and Technology Cooperation in 2010.

Pursuant to the MOU, the leaders noted the establishment of focus areas on Prime Minister Najib and President Obama expressed biotechnology, marine science, climate a firm commitment towards enhancing cooperation studies, conservation science and management under the Joint Committee of between their two countries in trade and Science and Technology. investment. Among the areas of interest are customs administrative matters and to this end The Prime Minister highlighted to President would therefore encourage officials engaged in the Obama the initiatives under the Global negotiations to expedite the early conclusion of the Science and innovation Advisory Council Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement. The two (GSIAC), a joint New York Academy of leaders are also committed to work toward finalizing Sciences and Malaysian Industry-Government the memorandum of understanding on immigration Group for High Technology (MIGHT) forum information exchange. with a mandate to develop science, Prime Minister Najib and President Obama also decided to consult on Malaysia’s interest in

13

technology and innovation strategies to achieve Malaysia’s vision 2020. (Continued)

Malaysia recognized the U.S. Government’s tremendous role as an important partner of the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI). The Prime Minister conveyed his appreciation to President Obama for United States’ contributions of more than U.S $60 million in technical and financial assistance and capacity building programs to CTI member countries.

Noting the shared visions of the two countries to develop a stronger bio-based economy to ensure sustainable growth, both leaders recognized expanded private sector research collaboration and cooperation in biotechnology.

The Prime Minister sought the United States’ support to build Malaysian knowledge and expertise to develop green technology and thanked President Obama for U.S. assistance in creating Malaysia’s newly announced green technology development strategy and clean energy cooperation to date under the U.S. Asia Pacific Comprehensive Energy Partnership.

President Barack Obama greeted by Prime Minister Najib Razak April 27, 2014

The Prime Minister and President Obama reiterated a common commitment to the conservation of biodiversity and agreed to strengthen cooperation in addressing illegal wildlife trade.

Conclusion Looking ahead, both leaders pledged their commitment to elevate the Malaysia – U.S. bilateral Icooperation to a Comprehensive Partnership that would cover wide-ranging areas for the expansion of trade and investment, security and defense, education, science and technology, energy, and people-to-people relations, for the collective benefit of both countries.

President Barack Obama speaks with students learning about computer code at the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Center (MaGIC) in Kuala Lumpur, April 27, 2014.

President Barack Obama talks with Malaysian civil society leaders at the Ritz-Carlton in Kuala Lumpur, April 27, 2014.

14

Malaysia is one of the few countries in Asia attempting to tackle structural reforms such as reducing state subsidies on basic provisions, in an effort to cut public debt. At 54.8 per cent of gross As your webmaster about once a month I get emails from domestic product, the country’s public debt is one someone looking for their favorite PCV teacher. This month of the highest in Asia. a note from Maria Sho looking for Joan who served in SMK Semporna in 1970. If you have any information please pass Najib Razak, prime minister, said last month that the government’s subsidy bill had risen too fast it along and I will make the connection. I never disclose and warned that failure to cut government emails or phone numbers of the found volunteer. I always spending could lead to a loss of investor pass on the contact of the person looking to protect the confidence “and subsequent hardship for the privacy of the volunteer. Thanks Thaine. people”. A cut in fuel subsidies was implemented thaineallison@gmail.com in September and a 6 per cent sales tax will come into force next year.

LOOKING FOR RPCV JOAN ROMINSKI PAPARIGIAN

Many Malaysians like Ms Lee are feeling the pinch as subsidies are peeled away. Petrol is now 10 per cent more expensive following the first round of cuts in fuel subsidies. Analysts expect another price increase in June or July when the second round kicks in. Electricity tariffs also rose 15 per cent in January.

Fragile Middle: Malaysians Feel Pinch as Subsidies Aare Cut

By Jeremy Grant in Singapore 4/16/2014 Financial Times Lee Ee May, a 27-year-old working in the Kuala Lumpur offices of an international management consultancy, appears comfortably well-off by Malaysian standards.

She earns Rm3,100 ($956) a month after pension contributions, drives a Rm78,000 car and describes herself as “in the upper bracket” of what she considers middle class.

But Ms Lee quickly sketches the story behind her apparently comfortable lifestyle. She bought the car using a bank loan requiring Rm600 a month to service the debt and lives in the city centre in an apartment bought by her father rather than commute from her parents’ home 45 minutes from central Kuala Lumpur.

That not only means she avoids the daily gridlock that chokes the Malaysian capital, but she also saves Rm400 a month on petrol – fuel that until a few months ago was one-third subsidised by the government. “I am quite privileged and yet I feel so squeezed. A lot of us are feeling squeezed,” Ms Lee says.

15

FT Series -Millions in emerging markets have in the past 30 years moved from poverty into the consuming middle classes. But with growth slowing, their fates are now one of the biggest challenges confronting governments. Another effect of this has been to drive up inflation, which has risen sharply since the measures took effect and predicted to rise further.

Charles Santiago, an opposition MP, says: “People are left hanging because they have the lifestyle of a middle class [person], but their earnings capacity has fallen because of the increase in the cost of living.” Worse, many Malaysians have ridden a wave of cheap credit to build up significant household debt. Malaysians are among the most highly leveraged in Asia: household debt reached 86.8 per cent of GDP at the end of last year, up from 80.5 per cent a year ago, according to data published by the central bank last month.

Carmelo Ferlito, fellow at the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs in Kuala Lumpur, warned that Malaysia’s middle class are now in a dangerous position, particularly if economic growth slows. “The risk is that if they do not change their spending habits and return to being savings-oriented, when a crisis comes the middle class will disappear.”

FRIENDS OF MALAYSIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Barry Morris, President Thaine Allison, Jr., V.P. of Programs/Newsletter Editor/Web Master Paul Murphy, Treasurer/ Membership Director John Pearson, Lynn Juhl, Rod & Ruth Zimmer, Secretary, Michael H. Anderson, Marjorie Harrison Karen McClay and Bob Cricenti. Learn more about the Friends of Malaysia at our web site: http://FriendsofMalaysia.org Want to contribute to Apa Khabar or join FoM? Contact us at webmastser@FriendsofMalaysia.org Other news on the web: Sabah Peace Corps Reunion:https://www.facebook.com/groups/26121967 0658500/ Peace Corps Malaysia: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ 201309356552602/?ref=ts&fref=ts Peace Corps https://www.facebook.com/peacecorps Peace Corps Malaysia XII www.facebook.com/groups/ 169875577148/?ref=ts&fref=ts

WANT TO JOIN FRIENDS OF MALAYSIA?

Name _________________________________ Maiden Name (if applicable _______________) Address____________________ Address____________________ City_______________________ State & Zip _________________ email address _______________ LAST ISSUE’S CONTEST Dates of PC Service What does this series of maps portray and how are they relevant to Malaysia? Mary Michael McTeague _____________________ Malaysia XX had the right answer. It is a series of maps Home Phone showing the deforestation of Borneo. ___________________________ Membership Category: _____ $50.00 Individual (Includes Friends of Malaysia and THIS ISSUES’S CONTEST National Peace Corps Association)_____ Recently President Obama visited Malaysia. Who was the Friends of Malaysia only $15.00 Print last sitting president to visit Malaysia and were you there? this application, fill in the blanks and Mail Send your answers and tell us your story to the application, with a check payable to webmaster@friendsofmalaysia.org Friends of Malaysia, to: Paul Murphy, Treasurer, FoM, 510 Little John Hill, Sherwood Forest, MD 21405. Or just go on line and do it! NPCA: http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/memb ership/

US President Barack Obama (back, C) and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (back, R) pose with a group of students during a visit to the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC) in Cyberjaya, outside Kuala Lumpur.

16