Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship : Mp Defends Vision Amid Criticism

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has already demonstrated strong leadership and strategic vision in addressing key challenges, fostering economic growth, and strengthening ASEAN’s unity, according to Sungai Petani Member of Parliament (MP) Mohammed Taufiq Johari.

Malaysia is one of the four founding members of ASEAN, which was established in 1967 to accelerate economic growth and promote peace and security in Southeast Asia.

The 27-year-old MP responded to recent criticism of Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship, saying critics have unfairly dismissed Malaysia’s efforts without acknowledging the proactive steps taken to enhance regional cooperation.

Taufiq emphasised that Malaysia has already taken significant steps to strengthen ASEAN's institutional capacity, streamline decision-making, and improve coordination among member states.

He stressed that Malaysia is also advocating for a stronger ASEAN Secretariat with better resources to manage the region’s expanding agenda.

Taufiq also noted that Malaysia is driving ASEAN’s regional payment connectivity initiative, which aims to integrate digital payment systems across member states. 

“This will facilitate smoother cross-border transactions, benefitting businesses and consumers alike. Additionally, Malaysia has pushed for the full implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to boost trade and investment flows, solidifying ASEAN’s position as a global economic hub,” he said in the statement. 

Recognising the importance of food security, he mentioned that Malaysia is also working with ASEAN partners to develop a regional food supply resilience framework to safeguard against future disruptions and ensure stable and affordable food supplies for all member states.

Taufiq said Malaysia is reinforcing ASEAN’s collective position on the South China Sea by advocating for a legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) with China to prevent conflicts and ensure freedom of navigation.

He also noted that Malaysia has called for stronger maritime security cooperation within ASEAN to counter illegal fishing and other threats that endanger regional stability.

Regarding climate change, which increasingly threatens Southeast Asia, the MP mentioned that Malaysia is leading efforts to strengthen ASEAN’s disaster response capabilities through better coordination under the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre). 

“Malaysia is also advancing plans to expand climate financing mechanisms, allowing ASEAN member states to access more funding for green projects and disaster recovery efforts,” he said.

Taufiq also pointed out that Malaysia is championing initiatives to improve visa-free travel and mobility programmes for ASEAN citizens, making it easier for professionals, students, and workers to move across borders.

He noted that it includes promoting mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) for skilled professionals, ensuring greater job opportunities and economic integration across the region.

The MP said that Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship is off to a strong and proactive start, with clear initiatives to strengthen economic growth, regional security, institutional effectiveness, and climate resilience. 

He added that dismissing its efforts at this early stage ignores the long-term impact of these strategic actions. A fair assessment should focus on the tangible progress that will unfold throughout the year, rather than rushing to judgment after just one month.

Meanwhile, in an opinion piece published in the Jakarta Post on February 3, Bridget Welsh, an honorary research associate with the University of Nottingham Asia Research Institute Malaysia, expressed scepticism about the excitement surrounding Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship.

Welsh argued that early signs point to a lack of a concrete plan to meet the expectations placed on Malaysia as the bloc's leader.

She also suggested that the chairmanship risks are being overly focused on Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, rather than on ASEAN itself.

Additionally, she raised concerns about the appointment of Thaksin Shinawatra as an adviser.

-- BERNAMA