Kuala lumpur: ASEAN has demonstrated its capacity to act decisively under Malaysia's current Chairmanship, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. Citing efforts to address the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute, he said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's bold initiative had resulted in a brokered ceasefire and the planned deployment of an interim monitoring team.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad highlighted that when tensions escalated between Thailand and Cambodia, Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair, successfully convened both parties in Putrajaya, facilitating a ceasefire that is currently being implemented and monitored with the support of ASEAN. In his speech at the 58th ASEAN Day celebration, Mohamad thanked the Prime Minister for his initiative in bringing together the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia. The event was attended by notable figures, including Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.
Mohamad further stated that Thailand and Cambodia have agreed on the ceasefire terms and that an interim monitoring team will be established. He emphasized that this effort was more than just a diplomatic exercise, showcasing ASEAN's capability to act effectively and its value as a platform for regional cooperation.
Regarding the Myanmar conflict, Mohamad noted that ASEAN has adopted a principled yet practical approach to crisis management. This includes humanitarian engagement, calls for an expanded ceasefire, and the proposal of a permanent Special Envoy to address the ongoing crisis. He reiterated ASEAN's commitment to restoring credibility to the Five-Point Consensus and supporting the people of Myanmar.
Over the past 58 years, ASEAN has evolved into a unique organization with each new member state and dialogue partner, setting a new standard for diversity in global governance. For Malaysia, ASEAN remains central to regional engagement with the world, grounded in consensus and shared purpose, and committed to building an inclusive and sustainable Southeast Asia. Mohamad expressed pride in seeing ASEAN adapt to contemporary challenges, with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 charting a path toward a more resilient, innovative, and people-centered region.
Reflecting on the creation of ASEAN, Mohamad remarked that in the 1960s, the world was fractured by superpower competition, leaving smaller, newly independent states vulnerable. In such a context, it was a visionary act for the five Southeast Asian nations of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand to gather in Bangkok and pledge to navigate the world together, leading to the birth of ASEAN as an experiment in peacemaking and minilateralism.
ASEAN Day is celebrated annually on August 8 to commemorate the inception of ASEAN in 1967 when Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand signed the ASEAN Declaration, also known as the Bangkok Declaration.