Anwar: ASEAN backs Timor-Leste's full membership bid
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday said ASEAN remains committed to supporting Timor-Leste's full membership in the regional grouping, while acknowledging that the process of meeting key requirements is complex and gradual.
Anwar said ASEAN leaders were aware of the structural and institutional challenges facing Timor-Leste, but he expressed confidence in the country's commitment to meeting the necessary conditions.
'Now, it's a difficult road because fulfilling the pillars is a challenging task.
'And they are aware that ASEAN leaders could see...just to secure their entry, with the clear understanding that they will try their level best to meet the requirements,' he said during a question-and-answer session at the 38th Asia-Pacific Roundtable (APR) held here on Thursday.
Anwar commended the ASEAN Secretariat for actively coordinating efforts to facilitate Timor-Leste's preparations for full membership, including readiness assessments in legal, financial, and parliamentary systems.
While economic integration remains a significant hurdle, Anwar noted that engagement and investment promotion efforts are ongoing.
'First, it's for countries to go and engage, to promote trade and investment, and at the same time use the opportunities to build institutions.
'So far, we are quite satisfied with the level of commitment, although admittedly some of these areas are rather slower than what we anticipated earlier,' he said.
Anwar said he had also raised the issue with the President of Timor-Leste Dr Jose Ramos-Horta on Wednesday and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao during discussions last month, reaffirming Malaysia's support and its expectations for steady progress over the next five years.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, shared that he had also discussed Timor-Leste during a courtesy visit by ConocoPhillips chairman and chief executive officer Ryan Lance in Putrajaya on Wednesday.
'I was at this meeting with ConocoPhillips yesterday. They are very bullish about the prospects in Malaysia and Sabah, but also in Timor-Leste,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
35 minutes ago
- The Star
Govt reform agenda progressing consistently, not mere rhetoric, says PMO
KUALA LUMPUR: Claims that the "reformasi" agenda is not progressing are unfounded, as it is moving forward consistently, says Tunku Nashrul Abaidah. The senior press secretary to the Prime Minister said the reformasi agenda is not something to be implemented overnight or merely expressed in statements, but rather is being executed through structured actions. "Since the start of the Prime Minister's (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) administration, he has emphasised that the Madani government will always listen and stay open to constructive criticism. "This stance is reflected in action. Every criticism is viewed as an opportunity for improvement. Today's successes mirror that approach," he said. Tunku Nashrul said this during the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) daily briefing, broadcast live on both Anwar Ibrahim's and the PMO Malaysia's Facebook pages Thursday (June 19). Tunku Nashrul said that, as outlined by the Prime Minister through the Madani Economy Framework, the main goal is to elevate the nation's economic potential, enhance its capacity, and ensure the well-being of its citizens. He added that Malaysia's rise of 11 places to the 23rd rank in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2025, up from 34th place last year, is due to the Madani government's sustained commitment and comprehensive implementation via a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach. He said this is the country's best performance since 2020, proving that economic and bureaucratic reforms are yielding results and that the Madani Economy Framework is keeping the country's economy on the right track. "This achievement also reflects the collective efforts to strengthen fiscal policy, simplify business processes, and accelerate public service delivery reforms, including over 1,000 initiatives under the Bureaucratic Red Tape Reform (RKB). "For example, the national bureaucracy perception index has jumped 22 positions, a clear signal that reforms are delivering real results, not just at the national level but also with international recognition," he said. - Bernama
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Asean ministers agree to Langkawi joint statement on overcoming school dropouts, says Fadhlina
LANGKAWI: The Langkawi Joint Statement on Out-of-School Children and Youth (OOSCY) has been agreed upon by Asean Education Ministers as a framework to address the challenges of access to education. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October. "We went through a long process to reach consensus on this commitment. Thankfully, no amendments were needed, and national leaders have shared their views on how Asean can act as a united community to implement interventions and address this issue seriously. "Malaysia will bring this commitment to life through the organisation of a seminar in October, and we hope it can be translated into action after being agreed upon by all Education Ministers as a joint commitment," she said at a press conference following the Asean Education Ministers and Higher Education Ministers Roundtable (#EduRoundtables2025) here on Thursday (June 19). Fadhlina also emphasised that the issues of student dropout rates and the levels of numeracy and literacy are closely tied to poverty and must receive serious attention. In Malaysia, for example, several interventions have been implemented, including leading the foundational learning issue by expanding access to preschool education, establishing a special committee to strengthen the curriculum, and examining the need for digital technology reforms, including AI-powered classrooms. Langkawi's Joint Statement on OOSCY acknowledges that crises and challenges in the Asean region, including climate change, conflict situations, deepening poverty, income inequality, and the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, have exacerbated educational inequality. "We emphasise the urgent need to address educational disparities to ensure inclusive, accessible, and high-quality education for OOSCY as highlighted in the Asean Declaration on Strengthening Education for OOSCY, adopted in 2016. "We underscore the necessity for Asean Member States to accelerate the implementation of innovative, targeted, and meaningful strategies within and across Asean to reduce the number of OOSCY. "We hereby call upon Asean Member States, in collaboration with development partners, civil society, and the private sector, to accelerate the adoption of innovative, technology-enabled, and inclusive education strategies that ensure equitable learning opportunities for OOSCY, thus fostering a resilient and future-ready Asean Community," the document stated. Among the strategies highlighted to address OOSCY issues are Technology-Enabled Learning Solutions, AI-powered predictive analytics and data utilisation, capacity-building programmes, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and collaboration with NGOs and civil society organisations. Other strategies include Alternative and Flexible Learning Pathways, Crisis-Responsive Education Policies, Inclusive Education Initiatives, Skills Development and Workforce Readiness, and Cross-Border Collaboration and Data-Driven Decision-Making. This year marks the fifth time Malaysia has served as Asean chairman, having held the position in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015. – Bernama
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Appointment of IGP yet to be finalised
ISKANDAR PUTERI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim did not disclose if the name of the individual who will be appointed as the new Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to replace Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, whose contract is scheduled to end on June 22, has been finalised or not. He also declined to say whether a list had been submitted to the palace. 'But who told you? Is it true? I'll ask the King later,' he quipped when asked by reporters about the matter. Anwar's statement came after media reports claimed that a list of IGP candidates had been finalised by the government and submitted to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The appointment of the IGP is the prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, based on the Prime Minister's advice, as stipulated under Article 140 of the Federal Constitution. Razarudin was appointed as the 14th Inspector-General of Police for a two-year contract after his retirement, effective June 23, 2023, succeeding Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani.
