Author: Mohammad Muda.

Malaysia's first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, played a pivotal role in the withdrawal of South Africa from the Commonwealth. The Sharpeville shootings hardened the established hostility to apartheid in Malaysia and provoked the Tunku into raising the issue at the 1960 Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference. After South African withdrawal in 1961 Malaysia supported international action to bring pressure to bear to end apartheid. The country has reciprocated steps taken to dismantle apartheid and establish democracy. A 30‐year ban on travel to South Africa was lifted in 1991, and a Liaison Office, established in Johannesburg in 1992, was upgraded to a High Commission status when South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth two years later.