By Amar Shah Mohsen
SHAH ALAM, July 10 — The government has been urged to conduct more programmes to promote people-to-people relationships when it becomes the chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) next year.
Gombak MP Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said this is crucial to enhancing the Asean spirit and, subsequently, the regional economy.
He made the proposal in the Dewan Rakyat in response to Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan’s earlier remark that the Federal government has lined up 257 high-level meetings throughout next year involving ministers and government officers as part of its chairmanship.
[caption id="attachment_326029" align="alignright" width="381"]
Gombak MP cum Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari debates the 12th Malaysia Plan Mid-Term Review in the Dewan Rakyat, at Parliament, Kuala Lumpur, on September 13, 2023. — Picture by BERNAMA[/caption]
“Based on your statement, most activities involve government-to-government, namely officials from Asean member states. However, I am more interested in the socio-economic and socio-cultural pillars.
“What are the programmes, measures, and strategies to enhance people-to-people relationships when we become the Asean chair?
“This will strengthen the Asean spirit as well as the people’s understanding about Asean, hence helping to increase trade value and improving various markets,” the Selangor Menteri Besar said when posing a supplementary question to the minister.
Amirudin stressed the importance of capitalising on Malaysia’s chairmanship, especially considering the huge Asean population of more than 670 million.
In response, Mohamad said the government intends to ensure that the spillover effects of Malaysia’s chairmanship are felt by the various states, businesses, and people.
Being the Asean chair provides the country with the opportunity to promote its unique cultures and economy to a wide audience.
“We have also expressed this intention to the states and local councils. In terms of the economy, it will be managed by the Malaysian chapter of the Asean Business Advisory Council, supported by the private sector,” he said.
Earlier, when responding to Amirudin’s original question on the government’s preparations ahead of the 2025 Asean chairmanship, Mohamad said various programmes have already been identified by a steering committee chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as well as committees at the ministry level.
The programmes are based on three main pillars: political security, economy, and socio-cultural.
“We have also identified the locations where the Asean meetings will be held. They will be focused not only in Kuala Lumpur but nationwide, including Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Johor, Melaka Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Langkawi, and various others.
“Due to the sheer number of meetings, we have set up the 2025 Asean Logistics Main Secretariat to manage and monitor, particularly in terms of logistics,” he said.
