Supporting Malaysian aspirations for a more democratic society.

WHY USAID/OTI IS IN MALAYSIA

The May 2018 Malaysian national election sparked a wave of optimism, demonstrating a rebuke of the patterns of governance over the previous 60 years and a rejection of a broader regional trend towards authoritarianism. Though the transition of power has been peaceful, ongoing support is needed to ensure the will of the people persists. Malaysia is a significant regional and global partner to the United States, and the two countries share a diverse and expanding partnership in trade, investment, security, and cultural relations. There is also a long history of people-to-people exchanges and robust economic ties. The U.S. Government is deeply committed to supporting the political reforms taking place in the country, and continues to work with Malaysian counterparts to strengthen the country’s leadership role in the region.

USAID/OTI'S ROLE IN MALAYSIA

The U.S. Government partners with the Government of Malaysia, civil society, and other interested stakeholders to support Malaysians’ aspirations for a more democratic society. The program’s objectives are to:

• Assist the Malaysian government in enhancing standards of transparency, accountability and responsiveness to the public; and
• Empower voices to engage in the ongoing political transition while increasing collaboration between government and civic actors on key issues.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• USAID/OTI increased the technical capacity and knowledge of key government agencies and departments on a range of important anti-corruption issues by working with the Governance, Integrity, Accountability and Anti-Corruption Commission in the Office of the Prime Minister on a Political Financing Regulatory Framework, and by supporting the Malaysia Anti Corruption Commission to expand its corruption prevention outreach efforts.

• USAID/OTI continues to facilitate engagement between government actors and civil society organizations to increase government ownership and respect for diverse views in the policy making process.  

• USAID/OTI trains and equips local actors with skills to effectively advocate for reform through engaging youth, media, and citizens in the arts to increase the number of voices calling for reform. In partnership with a wide range of civil society organizations, the program organizes workshops on advocacy strategy, facilitates roundtable discussions on freedom of expression in universities, and supports digital art campaigns highlighting the value of open political discourse.