Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged Asean to earn, re-earn and fortify its unity, cohesion and centrality to withstand escalating geopolitical rivalry and complex regional contemporary challenges.
In his presidential lecture and acceptance of the conferment of the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste in Dili, Anwar emphasised that the grouping's cohesion and centrality should never be taken for granted.
00:00Now ASEAN has gone through thick and thin, persevered and grown.
00:08Yet the lessons of the past few years reinforce what our founding fathers knew back then.
00:16Our unity, cohesion and centrality are not a given statement of policy.
00:26They have waxed and waned through our near six decades of existence.
00:34Now ASEAN was formed at a time of intense geopolitical life rivalry.
00:42At that time between the United States of America and the Soviet Union.
00:47But our forefathers has that wisdom and the vision to realize that this region must be, must retain its vigor, peace and a zone which is peace and neutral.
01:05And we now have adopted that principle of centrality to engage with all countries, notwithstanding, to remain steadfast to our policies, visions and principles and ideals.
01:20So rhetoric aside, ASEAN's cohesion and centrality must be earned and re-earned and fortified.
01:31A divided ASEAN will only hamper their collective vision for a peaceful and prosperous region.
01:39Therefore, efforts toward ASEAN unity must continue, especially when the region is facing myriad challenges.
01:48The rise of transnational crimes, divisive great power rivalry, economic inequalities, double standards, hypocrisy or what I call contradiction in the application of international laws and norms.
02:04These are formidable challenges and require earnest resolve to overcome.
02:11But even more intractable and insidious are the atrocities perpetuated against the weak and the downtrodden.
02:24Basically the poorer countries and worse, the genocide inflicted on the Palestinians.
02:34The people of Timor-Leste do not need to be told and lectured on what is to be oppressed or jailed.
02:47To be persecuted or to have violence and bloodletting inflicted on them.
02:55For you have gone through and suffered the mayhem and atrocities.
03:02But you have also emerged stronger, more durable, more resolved, not to have such cruelty being perpetrated against you or any other vulnerable people.
03:17And while some nations have demonstrated moral cowardice, in spite of being even more economically advanced than Timor-Leste,
03:29you have demonstrated the courage of your moral convictions against cruelty and sheer injustice.
03:38Thank you, Mr. President and Prime Minister, for consistently voicing that.
03:46And I heard you for the first time in Jakarta.
03:50New member, but adamant, tough, as always.
03:56Yes, and please do remain so, particularly when you are part of the ASEAN 11.
04:07We have always overcome challenges and pushed the boundaries of success when we do so together.
04:14Now, when we pit one against the other or work to exclude some from cooperation and progress,
04:25we will continue to have a problem.
04:28So when people ask me, Anwar, why is it that you are so adamant in ensuring that Timor-Leste becomes member,
04:38full member of ASEAN as soon as possible?
04:42My view, my answer is simple.
04:45Whether a country is newly independent or relatively poorer is insignificant.
04:51It is part of our region and it has a great experience and it will contribute enormously to our enterprise
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