Latest news with #AseanLawForum2025
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Asean to align laws on AI, cybercrime and cross-border disputes
KUALA LUMPUR: Asean countries are set to align their legal frameworks in key areas such as artificial intelligence, cybercrime and cross-border commercial disputes. A joint statement on this will be signed at the upcoming Asean Law Forum in Kuala Lumpur. The statement will reflect the region's collective commitment to addressing emerging legal challenges, particularly in the digital era, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. "This joint statement is very significant because it shows that Asean countries — particularly our law ministries, justice departments and legal agencies — are ready to work closely on shared legal concerns," she said at the forum's soft launch here. She said the agreement will cover a broad range of transnational legal themes, including international arbitration and mediation,cross-border insolvency, online safety and cybercrime, AI in legal practice, criminal and commercial law reform and business and human rights. Azalina said international arbitration and mediation, in particular, are becoming key mechanisms to resolve commercial disputes among Asean businesses and governments. "So when Asean countries do business with each other — whether involving companies or governments — and disputes arise, they can turn to international mediation or arbitration platforms. "These are among the key subjects that I hope will be included in the joint statement and signed collectively by all Asean nations, aligning their respective domestic legal frameworks and ensuring applicability within Malaysia." Azalina said the forum is expected to serve as a platform for Asean members to share best practices and move towards common legal approaches, especially in areas where the region faces similar challenges. "On AI, for example, all Asean countries are grappling with the same issues. That's why we need aligned or at least consistent legal frameworks to ensure effective implementation and protection." The Asean Law Forum 2025, scheduled to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from Aug 19 to 21, is themed "Enhancing access to justice in the Asean Economic Community: Bridging legal cooperation for inclusive growth in the digital age."
New Straits Times
10-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia-Indonesia strengthen legal cooperation
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Indonesia have strengthened legal cooperation through an official meeting between Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Indonesian Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas in Jakarta on Thursday. Azalina said the working visit was part of her Asean nation tour under Malaysia's 2025 Asean Chairmanship, featuring productive discussions on enhancing regional legal certainty and establishing Asean as a trusted dispute resolution hub. "We also exchanged views on the proposed Joint Statement by Asean Law Ministers and discussed effective strategies for the development of international commercial arbitration and mediation. "In addition, we touched on other potential legal cooperation such as business law reform, online safety, and anti-corruption laws," she said in a Facebook post. During the visit, Azalina also invited Supratman to attend the Asean Law Forum 2025, scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur this August, which received a positive commitment from the Indonesian minister. Meanwhile, in a statement issued by the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department (BHEUU), Azalina said that the historically strong ties between Malaysia and Indonesia would deepen through legal-justice cooperation, contributing to regional security and prosperity. She said Malaysia remained committed to building a future-oriented legal ecosystem benefiting Asean economies while reflecting the region's shared values of justice, good governance and sustainable growth. Azalina also stressed on the importance of promoting mediation and arbitration as practical, cost-effective, and efficient mechanisms for commercial dispute resolution to create a business-friendly legal environment that supports regional trade, investment, and cross-border cooperation. "Our region's future hinges on legal stability through resilient frameworks. Through collective law reforms, Malaysia advances Asean's prosperity," she said. Touching on the Asean Law Forum 2025, the statement said that it was organised by Malaysia with support from the Asean Secretariat, Asean member countries and Japan. The forum serves as a dialogue platform for Asean Senior Law Officials Meeting (ASLOM) representatives to promote justice, support regional economic integration and advance discussions on arbitration, mediation, online safety, cybercrime, cross-border insolvency, commercial law and good governance. Indonesia is Malaysia's second-largest trading partner in Asean and sixth-largest globally, with bilateral trade hitting US$25.5 billion in 2024. Both countries have also pledged to strengthen economic ties, signing six bilateral instruments covering trade and investment facilitation in June 2023.
