SOVEREIGNTY, NATIONAL INTEREST AND SECURITY IN BILATERAL INVESTMENT TREATIES OF MALAYSIA

Authors

  • Asmah Laili Haji Yeon School of Law, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia
  • Mohammad Belayet Hossain School of Law, Chittagong Independent University, Bangladesh
  • Ahmad Shamsul Abdul Aziz School of Law, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia

Keywords:

Bilateral Investment Treaties, Sovereignty, National Interest and Security, FDI, Malaysia

Abstract

The bilateral investment treaties (BITs) have continued to play a significant role in regulating foreign direct investments (FDI) in many countries. Member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO), including Malaysia, have signed BITs to facilitate trade among nations. Malaysia’s FDI laws and BITs were established to protect foreign investors, however, neither legislation had provided specific provisions on the protection of sovereignty, national interest and security. This study was conducted to address the question; to what extent are sovereignty, national interest and security protected through BITs upon the introduction of FDI into Malaysia? This study employed a non-doctrinal socio-legal research methodology, whereby the authors analyzed 15 BITs between Malaysia and other countries to explore the provisions that pertains to the protection of sovereignty, national interest and security in Malaysia. The findings conclude that the existing Malaysian BITs contain provisions to promote and protect foreign investments, however, lacked the necessary provisions on the protection of sovereignty, national interest and security. Therefore, the government should reconsider these important factors when signing future BITs.

Author Biography

Asmah Laili Haji Yeon, School of Law, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia

Kolej Undang-undang, Kerajaan dan Pengajian Antarabangsa

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Additional Files

Published

30-12-2020

How to Cite

Haji Yeon, A. L., Hossain, M. B., & Abdul Aziz, A. S. (2020). SOVEREIGNTY, NATIONAL INTEREST AND SECURITY IN BILATERAL INVESTMENT TREATIES OF MALAYSIA. Journal of International Studies, 16, 39–58. Retrieved from https://e-journal.uum.edu.my/index.php/jis/article/view/jis2020.16.3