AS we prepare to look back on 2020, it is interesting to compare and contrast the experiences of different countries. The two countries that I know, and think about the most, are Malaysia and Australia.
In Australia, this year started badly — and then it got worse.
As the most destructive fires in our history swept through the country, we learned new respect for those we called our "frontline heroes". At that point, the term was used to describe our firefighters, rather than health workers.
We put our faith in disaster management experts and in each other. Communities pulled together. This turned out to be good practice for what was to follow.
We were not forgotten by our friends either. The Malaysian government offered assistance, as did Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia. In the end, the coming of rains meant we didn't need to call on Malaysia's help. But, the offer was there and was deeply appreciated.
When Covid-19 hit us, Australia and Malaysia both found themselves in crisis (for us, it felt as if one crisis had been replaced by another, with hardly a break). Both governments took early steps to close borders, secure personal protective equipment and begin testing.
Both countries have effective public health systems and competent administrations. As a consequence, Australia and Malaysia have each done well in managing the pandemic, although not without mishaps along the way.
In fact, our trajectories have been so similar that, by my calculations, our infection curves have crossed each other no fewer than 14 times during the course of this year!
I will never stop thanking Malaysia for keeping me and my family, my staff, and all Australians in Malaysia healthy and safe. While Covid-19 was the defining challenge of 2020, there have been others.
In a democracy, no political party or government's fortunes are ever guaranteed. In past years, Australian politics has seen sudden leadership changes and even minority governments. But, of late, we have settled into a more predictable pattern.
As an Australian diplomat, I am a neutral, but very interested, observer of Malaysian politics. And I've come to appreciate that Malaysians tend to follow politics with the same sort of passion that Australians reserve for sport.
Diplomats from countries whose leaders are directly elected (or unelected) must have scratched their heads at the dramatic developments in February this year. As a parliamentary democracy ourselves, we thought we understood a little better what was going on. But, I am always ready to be educated and/or corrected about Malaysian politics!
It is in the nature of democracy to be often untidy, and natural sometimes to crave political stability. But, in my opinion, even the messiest of democracies beats a well-ordered and rigid authoritarianism, because democracies are well placed to learn and change.
One of the "gifts" of 2020 is that we have had the chance to know ourselves better. The lockdowns have tended to reveal our weaknesses but also our strengths. I have been struck by the patience and good humour with which Malaysians have endured the hardships of this year.
In Australia, too, people have risen to the challenges. We've learned to work together in clever new ways, and some of these we won't forget. We've been reminded that our most valuable assets are our people.
In a similar way, Covid-19 has put a mirror up to our societies. It has afforded us an opportunity to reflect on how we treat those among us who have the least power. And taught us that their hardship can also be a source of vulnerability to us.
Not all the challenges in 2020 came from within. Many of the rules and norms governing international behaviour have come under pressure in recent times. In our own region, territorial, maritime, digital and economic sovereignty are now routinely tested. Malaysia and Australia have each stood up to these challenges, as we must. And, as friends do, we exchange information and ideas as we go forward.
There is no doubt that 2020 has been a tough year. And few of us will be sorry to see it pass. But I can't help thinking that we may end up look back on this period in a kinder way than we do now.
Maybe it's been the support I've received from my friends and colleagues. Maybe it was His Majesty the King's Christmas message of peace and unity. But, for whatever reason, I find myself ending this strange year in a slightly more optimistic mood than when it started. I hope others feel the same. Happy New Year Malaysia and best wishes for 2021!
The writer is High Commissioner
of Australia to Malaysia