Having made a people-centred ASEAN as one of the priorities of Malaysia's 2015 chairmanship of the grouping, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Kuala Lumpur will continue to push for the continuance of the approach in the coming years.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that the region had to do much more to ensure that its population of over 600 million people felt that ASEAN was part of their lives.
"We want ASEAN to be close to their hearts, and we have a long way to go to achieve that.
"And that's one of the reasons why during Malaysia's chairmanship we wanted to emphasise on a people-centred ASEAN, and we will continue to press that approach in the years to come," he said.
Najib said this in his written response to a series of questions from Bernama in conjunction with the 27th ASEAN Summit and related summits this weekend.
Najib hailed ASEAN's citizens as the greatest strength of the community.
"We believe that allowing them to realise their aspirations...will strengthen and help drive ASEAN on to the next stage of its collective growth," he said.
He cited good governance, transparency, higher standards of living, sustainable development, the empowerment of women and greater opportunity for all as some of the aspirations of the people of ASEAN.
Najib noted that he and his fellow leaders adopted the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on People-Oriented and People-Centred ASEAN at the 26th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi in April.
In this regard, he said ASEAN members had undertaken various efforts, both at the national and regional levels, to promote greater and deeper involvement of all sectors of society in ASEAN's work.
Najib revealed that the promotion of rules-based, people-oriented and people-centred community had been incorporated in the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, with a number of measures having been developed and implemented to progress this agenda.
They include the inclusion of ASEAN studies in the curricula of educational institutions of ASEAN members, effective implementation of the ASEAN Lane at international airports, and the promotion of equitable economic development across the region.
"These measures are intended to ensure that all ASEAN citizens from all sectors of society are able to contribute towards and enjoy the benefits of a more integrated and connected community," he said.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the pessimism that greeted the birth of ASEAN back in 1967, with very few were optimistic that ASEAN would rise and prosper.
"It was predicted that ASEAN would wither...given the complex and unpredictable regional situation (then).
"However, 48 years later, we have proved them wrong. ASEAN is stronger, more cohesive and more prosperous than ever before – and that is good for all of our over 600 million-strong population," he added.
Bernama
Thu Nov 19 2015
Najib hailed ASEAN's citizens as the greatest strength of the community.
Piala FA Inggeris: Status Erling Haaland masih tanda tanya
Pep Guardiola mendedahkan bahawa pemain berusia 23 tahun itu meminta untuk dikeluarkan tanpa memberi alasan yang kukuh.
Anwar hadir selesai kemelut MPN Sabah
Beliau mempengerusikan perjumpaan tersebut yang dipercayai bagi menyelesaikan kemelut politik PKR di negeri ini.
Piala Asia B-23: Vietnam intai peluang benam Malaysia, layak ke suku akhir
Vietnam mencari peluang untuk memastikan slot ke suku akhir Piala Asia B23 apabila berdepan Malaysia malam ini.
AWANI Pagi: Berita tumpuan & menarik di astroawani.com [20 April 2024]
AWANI Pagi bersama Geegee Ahmad & Azib Zikry membincangkan keperluan pengenalan Skim Kemalangan Bukan Bencana Kerja (SKBBK) di mana Presiden Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC), Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani akan menekankan bahawa langkah proaktif itu adalah untuk melindungi hak-hak pekerja khususnya apabila melibatkan kemalangan jalan raya di luar waktu bekerja.
Lelaki bertindak bakar diri di luar mahkamah New York
Max Azzarello yang berasal dari St. Augustine, Florida, dilaporkan telah diselamatkan dan berada dalam keadaan kritikal.
[TERKINI] Ketua Polis Negara paling lama meninggal dunia
Bekas Ketua Polis Negara, Tun Mohamed Hanif Omar, meninggal dunia pada usia 85 tahun di kediamannya di Shah Alam pada 2.15 pagi Sabtu.
Pasangan suami isteri tidak sangka dua kali tolak tawaran, masih ada rezeki tunai haji tahun ini
Selepas surat tawaran berada di dalam tangan, dia dan isteri giat membuat persiapan demi memastikan mereka memperoleh haji yang mabrur.
Lelaki bertindak bakar diri di luar Mahkamah New York
Seorang lelaki bertindak membakar dirinya di luar mahkamah New York di mana perbicaraan bagi kes bekas presiden Amerika syarikat Donald Trump sedang berjalan
Perlu isyhtihar jika bawa lebih S$20,000
: Semua pengembara yang memasuki atau meninggalkan Singapura membawa mata wang fizikal dan instrumen boleh niaga (CBNI) dengan nilai lebih 20 Ribu Dolar Singapura atau bersamaan dalam mata wang asing.
Pengisytiharan CBNI ini supaya membantu usaha Singapura membanteras aktiviti jenayah seperti pengubahan wang haram dan Keperluan sedemikian adalah kebiasaan di banyak negara.
Pengisytiharan CBNI ini supaya membantu usaha Singapura membanteras aktiviti jenayah seperti pengubahan wang haram dan Keperluan sedemikian adalah kebiasaan di banyak negara.
G7 tekad, untuk redakan perang di Asia Barat, Ukraine-Rusia
Isu peperangan di Ukraine dan Asia Barat mendominasi mesyuarat Menteri Luar Kumpulan G7,terdiri daripada Amerika Syarikat, Itali, Kanada, Perancis, Jerman, Jepun dan Britain.
Sidang kemuncak menteri luar itu berakhir sejurus selepas serangan Israel ke atas Iran dikatakan sebagai tindakan balas terhadap serangan dron dan peluru berpandu Iran baru-baru ini ke atas Israel.
Sidang kemuncak menteri luar itu berakhir sejurus selepas serangan Israel ke atas Iran dikatakan sebagai tindakan balas terhadap serangan dron dan peluru berpandu Iran baru-baru ini ke atas Israel.