Foreign Minister Penny Wong delivers candid speech on her family life in Malaysia
In one of the most candid public speeches of her 20-year career, the Foreign Minister has revealed details of her personal life – to change how the world sees Australia.
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In one of her most candid public speeches in her 20-year career, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has drawn on her personal history to redefine how the world perceives Australia.
Addressing high-profile Malaysian businessmen and political figures in Kuala Lumpur, Senator Wong opened up about her family ties to the country and her early days growing up in Kota Kinabalu.
It is part of Senator Wong’s early efforts to reset Australia’s global position and convince South East Asian nations it is a forward-thinking, multicultural society with diverse qualities.
It comes as she flags sanctions against the oppressive Myanmar military junta after receiving an open letter from nearly 700 organisations urging her to make good on her promises to take strong action.
“It tells you something about modern Australia that I am here today speaking to you as Australia’s Foreign Minister,” Senator Wong said on Wednesday morning ahead of a trip to her hometown.
“Half of the Australian population is born overseas, or has a parent who was born overseas.
“Australia will be reflecting this rich character back to the world, so the world can see itself in Australia.”
Senator Wong declared “the time has come for Australia’s full story to be told: our modern diversity and the rich heritage of First Nations peoples”.
Speaking at a brunch event in Kuala Lumpur, Senator Wong said it was an “extraordinary privilege and honour” to stand in her birth country as Australia’s Foreign Minister.
“I doubt my Poh-Poh could have imagined it,” Senator Wong said, referring to her late grandmother Madam Lai Fung Shim.
Senator Wong said most of the family died when World War II swept across Malaysia, and her Poh-Poh was left alone to care for who survived.
“She was barely literate. She was loving and humble, and the strongest person I have ever known,” Senator Wong said.
“In any times (when) things feel hard, I think of her, and what she had to endure.
“Her determination to survive, and to save herself and her children, is something from which I draw strength every day.”
Since her maiden speech in parliament in 2002, Senator Wong has rarely opened up about her life away from politics.
Senator Wong said South East Asian nations shared Australia’s frustration in the ongoing Myanmar crisis, sparked by a military coup that overthrew the democratically elected government in February 2021, and flagged sanctions against the junta.
“I said clearly before the election that was something we thought was necessary and you should anticipate that’s a matter under active consideration,” she said.
Since she was sworn in last month, Senator Wong has launched an extraordinary diplomatic blitz, visiting nine key countries, including Vietnam on Monday.
In a veiled swipe at her predecessor Marise Payne, Senator Wong said Pacific and South East Asian nations appreciated Australia’s revived engagements in the region.
“I want to approach this job with being able to listen, not just tell people what we think they should do,” she said.
“I think Australia diminishes its capacity to influence the region if we spend a lot of our time appearing like we’re telling people what to do.”
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