KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) — ASEAN must uphold its reputation as a peaceful, free, and neutral bloc to attract more foreign investors to the region, said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
Johari, who is the president of the 46th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), emphasised the importance of this stance, noting that investors are unlikely to commit to regions marked by instability and business uncertainties.
“ASEAN has long been recognised as a zone of peace, freedom, and neutrality. Therefore, we must continue to strengthen our economy, striving to become the world’s fourth-largest economic power and ultimately advancing to third place.
“To achieve this, apart from ASEAN’s own landscape, we must work together with member countries to build an ecosystem – one that fosters data sharing, idea exchange, and collective progress as a united ASEAN bloc, rather than acting individually,” he said.
Johari said this in a press conference, after officiating the launch of the AIPA 2025 logo and theme song, Together We Thrive, at the Parliament building, today. The event was also attended by Dewan Negara president Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah.
Johari further stated that three states – Pahang, Selangor, and Sarawak – will be involved in AIPA 2025-related programmes, alongside Kuala Lumpur, which will host the AIPA General Assembly in September.
“Apart from the general assembly, other programmes in the three states include the Women Parliamentarians of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (WAIPA) in Sarawak, the Meeting of Young Parliamentarians of AIPA (YPA) in Selangor, and the AIPA Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs (AIPACODD) in Pahang.
“So far, 25 observer countries are expected to participate, alongside the 10 ASEAN member nations, in AIPA 2025,” he said.
AIPA, the regional parliamentary body, was established in September 1977, to foster strong ties among Southeast Asian lawmakers.
— BERNAMA