Kuala Lampur, Aug. 31 -- Every August 31, Malaysians celebrate Merdeka with pride, remembering those who secured our independence and reflecting on the journey that has made Malaysia a confident member of the international community. Yet Merdeka is not only about looking back. It is also about having the confidence to decide where we go next, including what Malaysia can contribute beyond our own borders. One of the lesser-known chapters of that story takes us to perhaps the most distant place imaginable: Antarctica.

In 1982, Malaysia was among the developing countries that questioned how Antarctica was governed. At the United Nations, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad argued that decisions concerning the continent should reflect the interests of t...