In the Enigma of Empowerment - Where do Malaysian Youth Stand in the Current Malaysia’s Foreign Policy?

Abstract

With the recently launched Focus in Continuity: Framework for Malaysia's Foreign Policy in A Post-Pandemic World, Malaysia has demonstrated its current priorities in its current foreign policy which include revitalizing the economy, health, and cultural diplomacy, multilateralism efforts, and security. However, there is a lack of youth presence embodied within the said document thereby, poses a question of where Malaysian youths stand in the current Malaysian foreign policy. This article aims to analyze the role of Malaysian youths in current Malaysia’s foreign policy with reliance on primary documents namely the aforementioned document, Foreign Policy Framework of the New Malaysia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Strategic Plan 2021-2025, the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (2021-2025), and the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030. This article is significant within the literature on Malaysia’s foreign policy analysis to have an in-depth understanding of the capacity of Malaysian youths to be key players within the public diplomacy spectrum. Additionally, this article provides possible opportunities for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia and its agencies to further empower Malaysian youth within the scope of its ever-so-developing foreign policy.