Back when: Following a coup in Cambodia, its entry into Asean was deferred, with Asean members standing firm against pressure from Phnom Penh. In the end, Cambodia only made it into Asean in 1999.
IN 1997, Malaysia was chair of Asean and hosted the Asean Ministerial Meetings (AMM), an annual gathering of the grouping’s foreign ministers at which they review community-building efforts, strategic future directions, and the conduct of the grouping’s external relations.
It was an exciting time for us journalists covering this meeting because three countries, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, were to officially join Asean at that July meeting. It was a historic event. Asean leaders during their summit in Bangkok in 1995 said the admission of these countries would serve the long term interest of regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
But two years later interesting developments were taking place in Cambodia following a coup by then second prime minister Hun Sen, ousting Prince Norodom Sihanouk. This led to internal fighting.
Asean decided to defer Cambodia’s membership at the AMM hosted by Malaysia.
Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who was foreign minister then, came under tremendous pressure from Phnom Penh demanding that the country be accepted, but he did well to lead the rest of Asean to a consensus to defer Cambodia’s admission.
A special ministerial meeting was hurriedly called to decide on Cambodia’s fate just before the official ceremony to admit new members was held. Eventually, only Laos and Myanmar were admitted that year. Cambodia only joined as the 10th Asean member in 1999.
Despite Western protests at Myanmar’s entry into Asean, it was admitted into the fold because Asean members felt there was no point in isolating the country. The mantra back then was “constructive engagement” with the military junta. Have things changed in Myanmar over the years? Almost three decades later, Myanmar is still an annoying problem in Asean. But that’s for another column’s topic to write about.
Malaysia has officially started its Asean chairmanship this year. Kicking off the year will be the Asean Foreign Ministers retreat in Langkawi on Jan 18 and 19 where issues to be discussed will set the tone for the year.
One of the issues would be Timor-Leste’s application to join the regional group. During their summit in Cambodia in 2022, Asean leaders agreed to Timor-Leste being admitted in principle as the 11th member of Asean and granted an observer status. Now they are able to participate in Asean meetings albeit without a decision-making role.
It is a tall order for Timor-Leste to become a member and to fulfil all the requirements, such as improving its economic and political situation. Timor-Leste gained independence in 2002. Since 2011, it has sought to become a member of Asean.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said that it would be some time before Timor-Leste becomes a full fledged member.
“There are still many things Timor-Leste has to do, about 80 out of over 300, which are basically the economic cluster, treaties, and compliance.
“The Asean Secretariat [in Jakarta] has set up a unit to help Timor-Leste to expedite their entry process because there are so many instruments they have to sign and comply with,” he told this writer.
An Asean official questioned if a consensus can be achieved to admit Timor-Leste this time.
“Of course there was consensus for its observer status. There was consensus that they will come in as a member one day. But will there be a consensus now, that’s the issue.
“Its membership is not going to be anytime soon. I’m aware that Malaysia is trying its best to convince other leaders,” said the official.
“The last of the three countries to join Asean came in due to a political decision made back then. Of course there was a list of criteria for them to fulfil too but it was not as strict as the one Timor-Leste has to fulfil.
“There is a roadmap that they are fulfilling, ratifying the agreements, especially economic ones, plus their capacity, especially human resources and financials, and ability to attend meetings.
“This can be difficult for Timor-Leste and will take them years to fulfil,” said the official.
Malaysia is one of the countries that strongly supports Timor-Leste’s entry into the grouping, apart from Indonesia.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim rolled out the red carpet for Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao just last month in Putrajaya. This official visit demonstrates Malaysia’s continued support for Timor-Leste’s aspiration to become a full member of Asean.
“What is important for Anwar is to do lobbying, talking to leaders and trying to convince them. It is tough.
“If you want to skin the cat, there are so many ways of doing it. What needs to be done is to engage everybody and get the leaders on board and continue supporting Timor-Leste like what others in Asean did for the least developed countries in the region back then,” said a diplomat.
Mohamad – one of the personalities who will be much sought after this year as Malaysia hosts many meetings, including two summits in May and October – says Malaysia is ready to host the thousands of delegates making their way here throughout the year.
“Our success will be measured from our logistical preparedness,” he said, adding that in terms of the “substantive, we are all right”, referring to working papers, issues, and takeaways on what Malaysia wants to put on the table.
“Logistics-wise, many ministries will be involved, and each has its own role to play. We are moving towards there.”
The Foreign Minister has repeatedly said that Malaysia’s priority is to keep Asean intact as one big family.
“No, we are not under threat of being disunited but with the new geopolitics around the world and in this region, it is important that Asean is intact.”
Mohamad explained that Asean needs to go back to basics as a peaceful region that is free and neutral.
“When I say inclusivity that means we are together, interconnected, and interdependent. As the chair we want to introduce a new vision for the next 20 years of the Asean Community.”
Anwar, in his new year address, said Malaysia faces a significant task in 2025 as it shoulders the responsibility of being the Asean chair.
That is indeed a heavy responsibility, one that each of the Asean members bears every 10 years or so.
Many eyes will be on Malay-sia this year to see how it tackles balancing Asean against the fast-paced geopolitical, geo-economic, and social changes taking place regionally and globally.
