1Malaysia Values Can Help Realise Asean Community - Najib
Bernama, Malaysia
1Malaysia Values Can Help Realise Asean Community - Najib
7 August 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 (Bernama) — The assimilation of the noble values of the 1Malaysia concept in Malaysians will enable appreciation of the spirit of cooperation and oneness among the Asean societies to realise the Asean Community by 2015, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Saturday.
In a statement in conjunction with the 43rd Asean Day tomorrow, he said Asean’s effort to realise the Asean Community by 2015 remained the responsibility of every Asean citizen, including Malaysians.
"The spirit of cooperation and oneness among the Asean societies is in keeping with the Asean motto of ’One Vision, One Identity, One Community’," he said.
"We can initiate the appreciation of this spirit in Malaysia through the assimilation of the noble values of the 1Malaysia concept," he said.
Najib said the realisation and role of the Asean societies, particularly Malaysians, were important in moulding Asean into a strong and sustainable organisation.
"It is important for all of us to assimilate the values of The Asean Way in realising the Asean Community, which is not only visible superficially but also rich in values of appreciation," he said.
Najib said that in establishing an integrated Asean Community, communication among societies was an element whose significance could not be denied.
In order to step up the level of communication and interaction among the societies of Southeast Asia, it was also necessary to step up regional connectivity through the development of physical infrastructure networks, trade, investment, tourism, cultural integration, and information and communication technology, he said.
Asean is drafting an Asean Connectivity Plan to step up connectivity in the region, as per the statement of the Asean Heads of State/Government on Asean Connectivity at the Asean Summit in Thailand last year.
Najib said that beginning this year, Asean economic cooperation underwent an encouraging process of transformation through the enforcement of the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with several dialogue partners, such as China, India, Japan, Australia-New Zealand and South Korea.
"Free trade is the backbone of growth in trade between Asean and countries of other regions. The free flow of goods and services is able to help develop the economies of member states through employment opportunities, and subsequently raise the living standard of the Asean societies," he said.
He said he was confident such measures would help Malaysia achieve the status of a high-income nation.
Najib said Malaysia should take the opportunity to cooperate with Asean’s dialogue partners and make use of the available funds for mutual benefit.
"For several decades, Asean’s cooperation with its dialogue partners had contributed to the success of Asean foreign relations. Various programmes were carried out where the dialogue partners were the primary contributors of funds for infrastructure development projects, human capital development and education," he said.
He called on Malaysians to participate in the efforts to enhance appreciation and knowledge of Asean through the organisation of various activities.
"In order to realise the Asean Community by 2015, it is important that all these efforts garner the support of the people at all levels, particularly the young who will become the leaders of tomorrow," he said.
Asean groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
