The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

ASEAN

1 VISION, 1 IDENTITY, 1 COMMUNITY

QUOTES BY NAJIB

ASEAN efforts to realise the ASEAN Community by year 2015 is the responsibility of each and every ASEAN citizen, including us Malaysians. The spirit of cooperation and togetherness among the ASEAN people is very consistent with ASEAN motto of "One Vision, One Identity, One Community". Appreciation of this spirit can be set off in Malaysia through the inculcation of values in 1Malaysia concept.

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak,

The 43rd  ASEAN Day Statement, August 8, 2010

Introduction

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on August 8, 1967 through the Bangkok Declaration.

This non-political organisation was established by the governments of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand aimed at enhancing the economic growth and maintained stability and security in Southeast Asia.

Currently, ASEAN comprised all the 10 Southeast Asia countries including Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. The ASEAN member countries cooperate in terms of political and security, economic and socio-cultural and succeeded in maintaining regional peace and stability as well as becoming the most rapidly developed and competitive region in the world.

ASEAN is recognised internationally as a body that can contribute towards global peace and prosperity. This is evident when ASEAN Dialogue Partners announced their interest to appoint an Ambassador or Special Representative to establish closer relations with ASEAN.

Malaysia as a founding member of ASEAN is very committed and constantly strives to achieve the objectives of ASEAN establishment and ASEAN Vision 2020.

History of the Establishment of ASEAN

1961 – Association of Southeast Asia (ASA)

ASEAN was established following the formation of the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA) on July 31, 1961 proposed by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. ASA comprised of three countries, namely Malaysia, The Philippines and Thailand aimed at enhancing economic, social and financial cooperation as well as to block the spread of communist influence in Southeast Asia.

However, ASA does not last long because of the disputes among member countries due to the issue of the formation of Malaysia in 1963. While the Philippines claims Sabah and withdrew diplomatic ties with Malaysia.

1963 – MAPHILINDO

In 1963, MAPHILINDO was established based of friendships and desire to enhance cooperation between Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. It also aims to resolve some disputes and confrontations between the three countries.

Continuous confrontation and conflict between the three countries and lack of achievement lead to the dissolution of MAPHILINDO.

1967 – Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Efforts to establish regional cooperation continuously held especially after the conclusion of the Malaysia and Indonesia’s confrontation in August 1966.

During negotiation in Bangkok in early August 1967, five Foreign Ministers of ASEAN founding countries agreed to establish Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Finally, the ASEAN Declaration also known as the Bangkok Declaration was signed by the Foreign Ministers at that time were Tun Abdul Razak (Malaysia), Adam Malik (Indonesia), Narciso R. Ramos (Philippines), R. Rajaratnam (Singapore) and Thanat Khoman (Thailand).

This declaration set the goal and purpose of ASEAN establishment and the membership openness to all countries in Southeast Asia. This Declaration also proclaimed ASEAN as representing the aspirations of Southeast Asia countries based on the spirit of friendship and co-operation to contribute towards peace, progress and prosperity of the region.

Objectives and Principles of the establishment of ASEAN

Bangkok Declaration 1967 set a goal of ASEAN establishment that is to accelerate the economic growth, social and cultural development based on the spirit of cooperation, partnership and equality to strengthen the development of a progressive and peaceful community among ASEAN member countries.

It is also aims to establish regional peace and stability by encouraging member countries to establish intergovernmental relations with respect to justice and laws as well as to adhere to the principles of the United Nations Charter.

The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) stated that, cooperation and relation between ASEAN member countries are on the following principles:

• Respect the independence, superiority, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all nations.

• The right of every country to lead, free from external interference, subversion or coercion.

• Resolution of differences or arguments peacefully.

• Decline the use of military.

• Effective cooperation between member countries.

ASEAN Charter 2007

ASEAN Charter has been agreed upon by ASEAN leaders through Singapore Declaration on November 20, 2007. The Charter makes ASEAN a legal entity that now has a stake in the guidelines to ensure effective and good governance in order to protect the rights of all parties.

ASEAN Member Countries

Country	Date of Admission	Head of Country	Head of Government	Capital City	Currency	National Language
Brunei Darussalam	8 January 1984	Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah		Bandar Seri Begawan	Dolar Brunei	Bahasa Melayu
Cambodia	30 April 1999	King Norodom Sihamoni	Prime Minister Samdach Hun Sen	Phnom Penh	Riel	Khmer
Indonesia	8 August 1967	President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono		Jakarta	Rupiah	Bahasa Indonesia
Laos	23 July 1997	President Choummaly Sayasone	Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong	Vientiane	Kip	Lao
Malaysia	8 August 1967	Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah	Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak	Kuala Lumpur	Ringgit Malaysia	Bahasa Melayu
Myanmar	23 July 1997	Senior General Than Shwe	Prime Minister General Thein Sein	Nay Pyi Taw	Myanmar Kyat	Myanmar
Filipina	8 August 1967	President Benigno S. Aquino III		Manila	Peso	Filipino
Singapura	8 August 1967	President Tony Tan Keng Yam	Prime  Minister Lee Hsien Loong	Singapore	Singapore Dollar	English
Thailand	8 August 1967	King Bhumibol Adulyadej	Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra	Bangkok	Baht	Thai
Vietnam	28 July 1995	Presiden Truong Tan Sang	Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung	Hanoi	Dong	Vietnam

ASEAN ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

·       The ASEAN leaders created the position of ASEAN Secretary-General and the Permanent Secretariat of ASEAN.

·       The main secretariat is located in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was established during the Bali Summit in 1976.

·       ASEAN Secretariat consists of four sections based on three pillars of the ASEAN community that are ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), ASEAN Social-Cultural Community (ASCC) and ASEAN Community and External Relations Division.

·       The staffs are appointed from all ASEAN member countries.

WORK FLOW

* Heads of Government (ASEAN Leaders)

 The Minister

The Senior Officer

Regional Committee

ASEAN Secretariat

* The highest decision makers in the ASEAN are the Heads of Government, better known as the ASEAN leaders.

ASEAN COOPERATION

Political and Security Sector

ZOPFAN (Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality) 1971

ZOPFAN was signed in 1971 aimed at ensuring that Southeast Asia was not involved in the conflict between the superpowers during the Cold War and the region does not have any foreign military base. All ASEAN member countries accept the concept while Malaysia has made this concept a key framework for its foreign policy.

The Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) 1995

The SEANWFZ treaty was endorsed in Bangkok, Thailand in 1995 to create a peaceful and stable region. The five countries that have nuclear weapons that are Russia, the United States, China, France and the United Kingdom and two new countries, India and Pakistan agreed to the agreement protocol that Southeast Asia is totally free of any nuclear weapons and mass destruction.

ASEAN VISION 2020 (1997)

ASEAN Vision 2020 agreed upon by all ASEAN countries in 1997 seeks to create a stable, prosperous and highly competitive ASEAN economic region in which there is free flow of goods, services, capital, investment, equitable economic development and to eradicate poverty.

  

Framework of the ASEAN Political-Security Community 2009

The framework was established by the ASEAN leaders during the 14^th ASEAN Summit held in Cha-Am, Hua Hin, Thailand on March 1, 2009. This framework sets out the roadmap and programs schedule in achieving ASEAN Community 2015 where member countries live peacefully with each other and enjoy a fair, democratic and harmonious environment at the global level.

Economic Sector

ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) 1992

AFTA was signed on January 28, 1992 in Singapore aims to promote investment opportunities for ASEAN countries through free trade by eliminating tariffs and non tariff restrictions among ASEAN members. AFTA can improve economic efficiency, productivity and competitiveness more widely.

ASEAN Framework Agreement on Trade Services 1995

This Agreement was accepted at the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in December 1995 where ASEAN member countries negotiated on service liberalisation in several key sectors including air transportation, business services, construction, financial services, marine transportation, tourism and telecommunications.

ASEAN Business Partner (ASEAN + 3) 1997

ASEAN+3 was formed in December 1997 in Malaysia to enhance cooperation between ASEAN and China, Japan and South Korea in the  economic and financial sector other than social development and human resource, scientific and technical, cultural and information as well as in infrastructure development.

The Framework Agreement on the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) 1998

The AIA agreement was signed by the ASEAN member countries in Manila, Philippines on October 7, 1998. The objective of AIA is to make ASEAN an investment area that is liberal, conducive and competitive through several measures. Among others is to coordinate ASEAN investment cooperation and facilitation programs, implement promotion programme and awareness activities on investment and also to include active participation of private sector in the development process of AIA. 

Framework of the ASEAN Economic Community 2007

The Framework for the ASEAN Economic Community was endorsed on November 20, 2007 in Singapore aims to achieve comprehensive economic integration in order to formed ASEAN as a region that is resilience and competitive at the global level. It is also to bridge the economic gap between member countries and to eradicate poverty.

Socio-Cultural Sector

Southeast Asian Writers Award

This annual literary award is given to writers and poets of the Southeast Asia since 1979. Recognition is given to the author lifetime achievements for the production of poetry, short story, novel, stage play, epic story, educational and religious.

Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL)

ASAIHL is a non-governmental organization which started in 1959 aims to strengthen the institutions of higher learning particularly in the areas of education, research and public sectors including to fuelling regional identity and mutual dependency.

ASEAN Scholarship

ASEAN Scholarship Programme was offered by Singapore to the other nine member countries for students at the secondary level, college and university. Funding covers accommodation, food, medical facilities, accident insurance and also school and examination fees.

ASEAN University Network (AUN)

AUN is a South-East Asia University consortium established in November 1995 by 11 Universities in the member countries. Currently there are 21 universities participated in AUN.

ASEAN Socio-Culture Community Framework 2009

This Framework was signed at the 14^th ASEAN Summit at Cha-Am, Hua Hin, Thailand on March 1, 2009. It outlines measures and programs to establish ASEAN Community by 2015 where the community share the same aspiration and identity towards  improving the quality and standard of living of all members of the ASEAN citizens.

 

CONCLUSION

The establishment of ASEAN Community by 2015 becomes the goal and expectation of all ASEAN member countries that are very committed in supporting the efforts to realise it. Through ASEAN Community, its people will share a sense of mutual identity with a strategic direction under a sturdy organisation.

It is the desire of ASEAN founders that the establishment of ASEAN not only to establish cooperation between the Government but also to strengthen the relations and safeguard the interests of all citizens.

Therefore, ASEAN community are urged to take initiative to get to know ASEAN and support Government efforts to strengthen ASEAN for the best interest of each member countries and the region.