BUY BRITISH LAST
Abstract: Many scholars
who have written
on the Buy
British Last policy
have not discussed
it in greater depth, and the
issue itself does not seem to be getting anymore attention lately. Prior to the
execution of the policy, Malaysia and Britain were already entangled with a
number of controversies that severed
economic relations between
the two countries.
This bilateral tension worsened
when former Malaysian
Prime Minister Dr.
Mahathir Mohammad, in retaliation for
aggravations over exorbitant
student fees at
British universities, announced the
Buy British Last
policy in 1981.
The article has
two major concerns
in this regard:
to explore the rationale
of the policy
and; to comprehend
Malaysia’s exercise of
diplomatic protest as a retaliatory measure against Britain’s unfair
treatment. Consequently, the British had to send diplomatic mission to Malaysia
to resolve the issue. It is also worthwhile to note that surmounting
preassures compelled Britain
to compromise with
Malaysia in order
to normalize relations, as the policy was detrimental to both countries.
In spite of the fact that the
matter was eventually
resolved, the Malaysia-Britain relation
has been fundamentally changed and was never to be the
same again. This article, therefore, also examines how Dr. Mahathir had
reshaped Malaysia’s diplomatic ties with Britain, to the extent that the former
colonizer was no longer accorded favorable treatment. Briefly, it deals with
events leading to the announcement of the Buy British Last policy, its
rationale and process of implementation, as well as the overall impact of the
measure.
Penulis: Mohd Afendi Daud
Kode Jurnal: jpsejarah&umumdd150171
