Kuala Lumpur: The Committee for Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) plays a vital role in ensuring member states remain united and move in tandem towards regional integration despite their diverse political systems, national priorities, and varying levels of development, said two academic experts.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Prof Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani, a senior lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), highlighted that since its establishment in 1967, ASEAN has expanded from just three to 10 member states united by shared interests. He explained the challenges of unifying ASEAN countries due to their differing national interests, fiscal economies, cultures, and languages. However, he noted the region's strength lies in its vast market potential, with over 680 million people and an economic value reaching trillions of dollars.
Prof Dr Mohd Azizuddin further discussed the relevance of the ASEAN Way, which emphasizes non-interference and consensus-based decision-making, despite frequent criticism. He cited Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's efforts to address the Myanmar crisis, emphasizing that these efforts aim at seeking a solution to the humanitarian issue rather than recognizing the junta. He added that the CPR plays a critical role in bridging decisions made at the highest levels of ASEAN leadership with implementation at the domestic level in each member state.
Meanwhile, Prof Dr Ahmed Razman Abdul Latiff, the MBA Programme director at Putra Business School, noted that the economic aspect is the most effective platform for achieving consensus among ASEAN countries. He stated that economic issues are core concerns directly impacting the people and government stability, underscoring the CPR's major role in ensuring the alignment of national policies, particularly on matters like supply chains, investment, and infrastructure.
Prof Dr Ahmed Razman highlighted collaborative initiatives such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which includes all 10 ASEAN member states, and openness to technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) as ways to enhance the region's competitiveness. He emphasized the ASEAN spirit of identifying each country's strengths to accommodate foreign investments and contribute expertise.
He also stressed the importance of cross-border infrastructure support, such as China's Belt and Road Initiative, which includes ASEAN countries and could unlock more economic opportunities.
Both professors agreed that ASEAN can only become an influential middle power on the global stage if it acts collectively in expressing its diplomatic stance, especially on issues such as the South China Sea, the Myanmar crisis, and global trade.
The CPR meeting was held in Kuala Lumpur yesterday in preparation for the 46th ASEAN Summit, which will take place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) next week. The high-level meeting gathered ASEAN permanent representatives, the Ambassador of Timor-Leste, and the deputy secretary-general of the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC).
It was followed by a series of preparatory meetings, including the ASEAN Senior Officials' Preparatory Meeting (Prep-SOM), the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Prep-SOM, and the ASEAN-GCC-China Preparatory Meeting. The 46th ASEAN Summit will be held on May 26 and 27, followed by the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit and the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit. This summit, themed 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', marks the fifth time Malaysia is chairing ASEAN, after holding the position in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.