A Seat At The Table: Timor Leste’s ASEAN Accession

By Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- When Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stood at the Presidential Palace in Dili yesterday afternoon, he was not just Malaysia’s head of government delivering a lecture and receiving Timor Leste’s highest decoration. He was also reaffirming a shared regional destiny. His visit, the first by a Malaysian Prime Minister in 23 years, underscored both the rarity of the occasion and the significance of the moment.

Earlier in the morning, he addressed the Timor-Leste Parliament, comprising 65 members from various political parties, some known to be vociferous critics of the administration. Always in tune with his audience, Anwar declared that “democracy may at times be noisy” and that is not a bad thing, but when anchored in constructive debate, “it provides stability, confidence and fairness”. He then proceeded, for the most part, to go off the cuff, no grandstanding, no mincing of words, just alternating between speaking from the gut and speaking from the heart. At the end, Anwar received a standing ovation, certainly in appreciation of that master class in oratory, but going beyond, a vivid demonstration of the respect, warmth and deep affection with which Malaysia continues to be held in Dili.

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Malaysia’s ties with Timor-Leste have always been rooted in solidarity and shaped by common aspirations for peace and prosperity. From the earliest days, we extended support to Dili, not only through diplomatic presence but also through efforts that helped the country stabilise and prepare itself for full statehood.

Over the years, Malaysia has contributed meaningfully to Timor-Leste’s development, particularly in education, human capital and institutional strengthening. Hundreds of Timorese students and officials have benefited from training opportunities, scholarships and professional exchanges in Malaysia. These programmes were aimed at nurturing capacity and leadership, ensuring that Timor-Leste could strengthen its own institutions and governance. What Malaysia undertook then was not an act of charity, but a long-term investment in a more peaceful, resilient and interconnected region, built on trust and mutual respect.

Timor-Leste’s imminent admission as ASEAN’s eleventh member is a milestone for both Dili and the wider region. It demonstrates that ASEAN remains open and adaptable, willing to embrace new members who share its vision of peace, stability, and cooperation. This step is also a reminder that ASEAN unity and cohesion are nurtured through dialogue, perseverance and collective responsibility.

Stability, confidence and fairness. These same qualities lie at the heart of ASEAN’s own project of centrality, which depends on healthy dialogue and mutual respect among its diverse members. In this regard, Timor-Leste’s democratic practices are not only a national strength but also an asset that will enrich ASEAN’s collective culture of consultation and consensus.

The expansion of the ASEAN regional family comes at a moment when great power rivalries are sharpening, when questions of economic resilience, supply chain security and sustainable growth are pressing, and when the multilateral order itself is under stress. In such circumstances, Timor-Leste’s inclusion sends a clear signal that ASEAN is strongest when it stands together and weakest when it allows division to undermine its cohesion.

At the same time, Anwar cautioned that the region cannot ignore the formidable challenges confronting it, including transnational crime, widening economic inequities and double standards in the application of international law. He reflected on the suffering of vulnerable communities worldwide, with Palestine as the starkest example, a challenge “even more intractable and insidious”. In recalling Timor-Leste’s own painful history of oppression and persecution, he praised its people for transforming trauma into resilience and moral conviction, offering ASEAN a timely reminder that courage against injustice is as valuable a resource as economic strength.

Some may ask whether Timor-Leste is ready for the obligations that joining ASEAN entails. The answer lies not in a checklist of immediate capacities but in the dogged resolve the country has demonstrated throughout its long journey, for indeed the path towards accession “never did run smooth”. But that tenacity was evident in the perseverance of its successive governments to fulfil ASEAN’s roadmap requirements, even as domestic political transitions posed near insurmountable stumbling blocks.

It was reflected in the willingness of Timor-Leste’s leaders to invest scarce resources in aligning national institutions with regional standards. This persistence, resilience and unyielding belief in a regional future will allow Timor-Leste to grow into its role within ASEAN. Indeed, there are lessons here for ASEAN itself: that inclusivity, accountability and forward-looking governance matter. As Anwar observed, Timor-Leste’s Parliament, with one-third of its seats reserved for women and a notable emphasis on younger representatives, is among the most progressive legislatures in the Asia Pacific. It is, in his words, “a living testament to the people’s commitment to democracy and self-determination”.

Timor-Leste brings with it values that will enrich the regional community. Its history lends ASEAN a voice of moral clarity, in contrast to some other economies, far mightier but afflicted with the syndrome of “moral cowardice” in the international arena. Timor-Leste’s Lusophone identity connects the region to the global South and the Pacific, strengthening ASEAN’s outreach to communities beyond its traditional spheres of influence. And its youthful population provides a reservoir of dynamism, innovation and human capital that can invigorate ASEAN’s collective future.

For Malaysia, this moment is an affirmation of our longstanding commitment to Timor-Leste’s success. We supported the country during its early struggles, we championed its membership in ASEAN, and we remain steadfast in ensuring that Timor-Leste will never walk alone on this path. As the current Chair of ASEAN, this responsibility takes on added meaning. This is not about geopolitical mollycoddling. It’s about lending a helping hand and offering guidance in the true sense of partnership as Timor-Leste takes its first steps as a full member.

Prime Minister Anwar’s acceptance of the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste is not just a personal honour. It is recognition of Malaysia’s enduring friendship with the Timorese people and a symbol of the shared path that lies ahead. This visit, significant in its timing and symbolism, has reminded us that Southeast Asia’s future is best pursued together.

History will recall this occasion not as a mere ceremony but as a defining moment when Malaysia and Timor-Leste reaffirmed that their destinies, and that of ASEAN itself, are intertwined. It was a reminder that the bonds between nations are never sustained merely by protocol, but by the collective will to “climb every mountain and ford every stream” in building a shared future.

For Timor-Leste, accession to ASEAN is the culmination of decades of perseverance and the start of a new chapter in its regional journey. For Malaysia, it is the fulfilment of a promise made long ago to stand by a neighbour in pursuit of freedom, stability and prosperity. And for ASEAN, it is proof that the regional project retains its vitality and relevance by embracing those who share its aspirations. In Dili this week, the message was unmistakable: Malaysia and Timor-Leste have chosen to walk forward together, and in doing so, they strengthen the very fabric of our regional community.

-- BERNAMA

Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah is Chairman of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of BERNAMA.