Malaysia’s chairmanship of Asean has only just begun and some people are already jumping the gun to criticise it. I wonder who this foreign academic Bridget Welsh is to keep slamming the Madani government and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
I just read her piece saying that was a lack of a viable plan to fulfil the expectations of Malaysia as leader of Asean and that “Malaysia’s chairmanship risks the potential of being too much about Anwar, and not enough about Asean”.
Then straightaway she criticises the plan to bring in former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as an Asean adviser. This is a man who has been a force in the region for three decades and whose daughter is currently the Thai prime minister. Of course he will have some influence, some economic clout and good ideas to boost regional cooperation.
How is that about hyping Anwar?
Let’s not forget that Asean is a dynamic group of around 700 million people. There is so much potential for the region to be a global powerhouse. But there are also concerns such as Myanmar after the military coup and issues like the Spratly Islands dispute.
Further Anwar has been bold , unwavering, and uncompromising on many issues especially on human rights and Asean will certainly need a statesman like him to lead especially with the turmoils and humanitarian transgressions occuring in South Thailand , Myanmar and the Philippines.
The region has much to benefit from if we learn how to cooperate. We can build on transport infrastructure and techology exchanges. We can have transboundary economic cooperation and work together to safeguard the environment, and advance democracy and human developments.
What is needed is a cool head and astute diplomacy, not people rushing to judge every initiative negatively.
Malaysia will host over 300 key meetings and programs throughout the year and also plans to undertake various initiatives in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), renewable energy, tourism, and healthcare. I am looking forward to it.
RSN Rayer
MP for Jelutong
