Khaled: One year not enough, continuity essential for Asean's future

The Star

Continuity is key to ensuring lasting peace and prosperity in the region, says Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.  Speaking at the handover ceremony of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus chairmanship to the Philippines on Saturday (Nov 1), he said Malaysia’s tenure focused on building upon the strong foundations laid by previous chairs.  Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr thanked Malaysia for its leadership and acknowledged its role in brokering the ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia.  Read more at https://tinyurl.com/ye22szr3  WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

Transcript

00:00I could not be prouder of what we have achieved together.

00:24This year's meetings have not only been productive,

00:27but they have surpassed our expectation.

00:32Since Malaysia assumed the chairmanship,

00:36we have signed and adopted 25 significant initiative,

00:42the largest number in the history of ADMM and ADMM+.

00:48But beyond the formalities of meetings,

00:52I hope all of you have also experienced the warmth, the energy, and the hospitality of Malaysia.

01:01Because for us, this chairmanship year is not only about policies and outcomes,

01:11but also about friendship, shared understanding, and a celebration of our ASEAN family.

01:20On behalf of the government of Malaysia and the Ministry of Defence,

01:27I extend our deepest gratitude to all ASEAN member states,

01:33ASEAN partners, and the ASEAN Secretariat for your steadfast support,

01:39your trust and your confidence in us.

01:43The success of this year's ADMM and ADMM+,

01:48is not Malaysia's alone.

01:51It is our success, ASEAN's success.

01:56It stands as proof that when we come together in unity and purpose,

02:03we can achieve great things.

02:07As I prepare to hand over the chairmanship,

02:10to my good friend,

02:13allow me to share one final reflection.

02:18Every chair before us,

02:20Laos, Indonesia,

02:23and those before that,

02:27has laid strong foundation for us to build upon.

02:32And Malaysia has continued this important journey

02:36by adding our own building blocks

02:40to a structure that belongs to all of us.

02:44But we must admit,

02:47we cannot do miracles.

02:50One year is not enough to accomplish everything.

02:55What matters is continuity

02:58to carry on the unfinished and unending mission

03:03of building a sustainable legacy for the ASEAN community.

03:11The ADMM and ADMM+,

03:15are enduring symbols of our collective commitment

03:20to ASEAN first,

03:22to unity, centrality, and solidarity.

03:28As we move forward,

03:29we must uphold this spirit

03:33by thinking ASEAN,

03:35acting ASEAN,

03:37and behaving ASEAN.

03:39I know I have repeated this many times,

03:43but it is very crucial

03:46that we ingrain this spirit within us

03:51all the time and always.

03:54And so,

03:56as we pass the torch,

03:58the torch,

04:00to our dear friend,

04:02the Philippines,

04:04Malaysia,

04:05gives its full and unwavering support.

04:10We have every confidence

04:13that the Philippines

04:15will continue to lead

04:17with the same spirit of dedication,

04:21integrity,

04:23and unity.

04:25Let us support

04:27the Philippines'

04:29ADMM

04:30chairmanship

04:32as one ASEAN

04:34united in purpose

04:36and in vision.

04:38Congratulations

04:40to all for making this

04:43a remarkable

04:45and meaningful chapter

04:46in the history of ADMM

04:50and ADMM Plus.

04:52I look forward

04:54to seeing you all again

04:56in the Philippines

04:59next year.

05:01And to Gilberto,

05:03it's now all yours.

05:07First and foremost,

05:09I extend our warmest

05:11and sincerest congratulations

05:14to the Ministry of Defense

05:16of Malaysia

05:18for successfully chairing

05:20the 19th ADMM

05:22and the 12th ADMM Plus.

05:25Sirs, you have done a sterling job

05:28and you have tough shoes to fill.

05:32Please join me in giving

05:35our Malaysian colleagues

05:37a well-deserved round of applause.

05:44I would also like to acknowledge

05:47His Excellency Dato Sri Khalid

05:50for his leadership,

05:52sincere friendship,

05:54warm hospitality,

05:56and I am witness

05:58to the tireless efforts

05:59that he exerted

06:01throughout the year.

06:03One big hand for Dato Khalid, please.

06:09Truly, you and your team

06:11have left big shoes to fill

06:13and our meetings have given us

06:15plenty of food for thought.

06:17So, on behalf of my delegation,

06:20terima kasi.

06:22With the theme,

06:24ASEAN Unity for Security and Prosperity,

06:27I believe all of us here

06:29gained valuable insights

06:31from our ADMM

06:33and ADMM Plus engagements this year.

06:36For the Philippine delegation,

06:39these have also informed us

06:42of our preparations

06:44and we have learned valuable lessons

06:47as the next chair of ASEAN.

06:51As His Excellency President

06:54Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated

06:56at the closing ceremony

06:58and handing over of the ASEAN chairship

07:01earlier this week,

07:03and I quote,

07:04our goal is not to diverge

07:07from past chairships,

07:09but to build upon the collective work

07:12of our predecessors.

07:14Unquote.

07:16In that spirit, I am honored

07:18and humbled to accept

07:20the chairship of the ADMM

07:22and the ADMM Plus

07:24from our esteemed host, Malaysia.

07:26The Philippines ASEAN chairship

07:29will be guided by the theme

07:31Navigating Our Future Together.

07:35Accordingly, the Philippine delegation

07:40commits to working with our fellow member states

07:44and dialogue partners

07:46towards our shared aspirations

07:49for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous

07:53Southeast Asia

07:55and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

07:57In light of recent events,

08:01I would also like to reiterate

08:04our appreciation

08:06for the leadership of Malaysia

08:09and the support of our partners

08:12in brokering the ceasefire

08:14between Thailand and Cambodia.

08:17For our part,

08:19we reaffirm our continued participation

08:23in the ASEAN-led observer team

08:24and we will remain steadfast

08:28in our commitment

08:30to peaceful resolution

08:32of the conflict

08:34with due regard for the sensitivities

08:36of all concerned.

08:38Ladies and gentlemen,

08:40our leadership in the ADMM

08:42and ADMM Plus

08:44comes amid heightened uncertainties

08:46about the future of our region

08:49and our world.

08:50to stay rooted in an increasingly unstable

08:54security environment,

08:56our internal cohesion

08:58and stability

09:00are all the more important.

09:02With this in mind,

09:04I would like to conclude

09:06by referencing the insightful remarks

09:09of His Excellency Datum Halim

09:12in the ADMM yesterday.

09:14He said, and I quote,

09:16When one of us is challenged,

09:19all of us are being tested too.

09:22Solidarity must never be selective.

09:26We must extend our solidarity

09:28in every situation,

09:30especially when regional peace is at stake.

09:33For only by standing together

09:36can ASEAN remain united,

09:39strong and resilient

09:41despite our limitations.

09:43With the Philippines at the helm

09:46of the ADMM and ADMM Plus,

09:49we will therefore

09:51not only sustain

09:53the significant progress

09:55we have made in our areas

09:58of practical cooperation,

09:59we will also strive

10:02to strengthen our solidarity

10:04and promote collective action

10:07to defend the principles

10:09we stand for.

10:11In that spirit,

10:13I look forward to welcoming

10:15all of you to the Philippines

10:17in 2026.

10:19Maraming salamat po.

10:21Mabuhay po tayong lahat.

10:23Thank you for your excellency.

10:30And now to mark the beginning

10:32of the Philippines chairmanship.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended