The Commonwealth has always had a central place in Malaya/Malaysia’s foreign policy, especially in the period immediately after independence and in the first few years of the formation of Malaysia. This was the period when Malaysia needed Commonwealth assistance most, in part, due to its requirement for external defense. Such assistance was not only relevant in the context of constructive cooperation but, more importantly, there was no other organization at that time in the region that could be of assistance to it. Whilst Britain was keen at accommodating Malaya as a member of the organisation upon independence, it were the Prime Ministers of Malaysia who played decisive roles in determining the extent of the relationship with the Commonwealth. The benefits Malaysia derived from such association were also heavily shaped by the styles and perceptions of successive Prime Ministers.Although the emergence of ASEAN, OIC, and other similar bodies in later years of which Malaysia is also a member, has gradually eroded Malaysia’s profound attachment to the Commonwealth, however, it has no intention of leaving the Commonwealth. It has continued to offer some degree of both tangible and intangible support to the organisation in which successive Malaysian Premiers have acknowledged its relevance to the country’s foreign policy as well as it being a useful platform to articulate Malaysia’s views on political and socio-economic matters concerning, not only Commonwealth countries, but also the world at large.

中文翻译：

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评估马来西亚继续成为英联邦组织成员

英联邦一直在马来亚/马来西亚的外交政策中占据中心位置，特别是在独立后和马来西亚成立的头几年。这段时期，马来西亚最需要英联邦的援助，部分原因是其对外部防御的需求。这种援助不仅与建设性合作有关，而且更重要的是，当时该地区没有其他组织可以提供援助。英国热切希望在独立后接纳马来亚为该组织的成员，但在确定与英联邦关系的程度方面，马来西亚总理发挥了决定性作用。马来西亚从这样的协会中获得的利益在很大程度上也受到历届总理的风格和看法的影响。尽管东盟，伊斯兰会议组织以及后来也是马来西亚成员的其他类似机构的出现，却逐渐侵蚀了马来西亚的深厚依恋。但是，它无意离开英联邦。它继续向该组织提供一定程度的有形和无形的支持，历届马来西亚总理都承认该组织与该国外交政策有关，并且它是表达马来西亚对有关政治和社会经济事务的观点的有用平台。不仅是英联邦国家，而且是全世界。以及后来马来西亚也是其成员的其他类似机构，逐渐削弱了马来西亚对英联邦的深厚依恋，但是，它无意离开英联邦。它继续向该组织提供一定程度的有形和无形的支持，历届马来西亚总理都承认该组织与该国外交政策有关，并且它是表达马来西亚对有关政治和社会经济事务的观点的有用平台。不仅是英联邦国家，而且是全世界。以及后来马来西亚也是其成员的其他类似机构，逐渐削弱了马来西亚对英联邦的深厚依恋，但是，它无意离开英联邦。它继续向该组织提供一定程度的有形和无形的支持，历届马来西亚总理都承认该组织与该国外交政策有关，并且它是表达马来西亚对有关政治和社会经济事务的观点的有用平台。不仅是英联邦国家，而且是全世界。