Screenshots

I am looking forward to listening live a keynote address by the Australian PM, Kevin Rudd, in Singapore tonight. His successful campaign in unseating John Howard in late 2007 heralded the Pakatan win in Malaysia last year.

I just dropped into Singapore this morning to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue 2009 as a guest of UK-based International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS).

Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi heads the government delegates from Malaysia.

He is accompanied by Chief of Arm Forces, General Abdul Aziz Haji Zainal; Vice Chancellor National Defence University Malaysia. Lieutenant; -General Zulkifli Zainal Abidin; Secretary General of Defence Ministry, Abu Bakar Haji Abdullah; Director of Strategic Planning, Security and Counter-Terrorism at the PM's Department, Adenan Abdul Rahman; Under Secretary (Policy Division) Ministry of Defence, Dr Hj Ismail Hj Ahmad; Malaysia's High-Comm to Singapore, Md Hussin Nayan; and Principal Assistant Secretary (Policy Division), Ministry of Defence, D Rajayah.

Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Selangor) and Yusmadi Yusoff (PKR-Balik Pulau), two other of my fellow colleagues from Pakatan Rakyat, made up the 3-member parliamentary delegates from Malaysia.

Though his name wasn't on the official delegates' list, Musa Hassan the IGP was on seat 1C in the business class in the flight I travelled on coach.

Regional Security

The conference has an encompassing agenda, focussing on traditional and non-traditional challenges to regional security in Asia-Pacific.

I presume myriad thoughts will be spent on the inevitable rise of China as a super military power to rival the US, and the recently-erupted tension due nuclear tests conducted by North Korea. Besides, with teh recent arrest of Singapore fugitive Mas Selamat in Malaysia may pave for move regional cooperation in winning the counter-insurgency campaigns.

I, for one, am particularly interested in the session that discusses ideas towards enhancing energy and food security.

UPDATES: This afternoon, I heard an inspiring speech from ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan at another function: the launching of MacArthur Asia Security Initiative. More on this later.

I have to thank my host, the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) of the Nanyang Technology University (NTU), Singapore, for extending me the invitation.