Happy 43rd ASEAN Day

In 2007, the ASEAN nations decided to celebrate the Founding Day of ASEAN on every 8 August. The intention is to stimulate the sentiment of “Think, Feel and Act ASEAN”, building an ASEAN identity, promoting ASEAN awareness and also bringing ASEAN into the familiarity of its people in the Southeast Asia region.

“Bridging Markets, Connecting People” is the theme of this year’s ASEAN Day celebration. Although there is a lack of oomph to its theme, nevertheless it articulates two significant elements — an ASEAN single market and a common identity. Amplifying connectivity does not mean that we are only connected through physical instruments but also required the connecting of the hearts and minds of the ASEAN people.

I made a google search on how our government celebrates this special day. It turned out to be only one relevant search result. Bernama reported that a two-day exhibition on ASEAN was held at the IIUM Gombak Campus to commemorate this special day. The event was opened by the Information Department director-general Datuk Abdullah Morad.

I wonder how we are going to win the game of similarity versus diversity if this is how we celebrate and promote the significance of the ASEAN Day for our people.

A dream far away from the reality

Talking about ASEAN, it remains as a familiar term for many of us but little are actually in the know of the impact of this sub-regional grouping on our daily life. With the introduction of the ASEAN Charter in 2008, ASEAN hopes to expedite its integration by putting it on a similar legal footing to the European Union.

By 2015, an ASEAN Community is expected to be formed, premised on the three pillars of cooperation — the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).

ASEAN has in many occasions reiterated that it wants to move towards closer integration by 2015 and is hoping to make it more relevant to the people in the region. Although it is hard to imagine ASEAN with a single currency any time before the deadline set.

The Charter is designed to be ‘people-oriented’. To us, this phrase seems to pave a way for constructive change for this intergovernmental body that has always been referred to as a ‘no action talk only’ because of the lack of involvement of other entities in its process.

But the Charter is surrounded by more state-centric wordings, since it was prepared by the government officials without thorough consultations with the civil society groups. Furthermore, ASEAN as a whole has failed to respect the voices of the civil society groups and the grassroots.

There have been several dismal events. For instance, during the 5^th ASEAN Summit in October 2009, some civil society representatives were barred from attending as government officials from Burma and Singapore, among others, refused to meet or hold interface dialogues with human rights activists from their countries.

What have the government done to create an ASEAN spirit?

Come to think about the ASEAN Day in a simpler form, how many people around us that clearly aware on the developments of the ASEAN?

Much concern heightened on ASEAN and there remains very few that are optimistic on the future of this sub-regional grouping as long as there is still insistence on its non-interference policy. The establishment of ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) marks its early journey to human rights. Within a year, the Commission has been flooded with mainly criticisms from its choices of representatives to its mandate.

Among the 10 nations, the Indonesia and Philippines are always deemed as more progressive comparing with the others like Malaysia. The Indonesia has been active in this grouping since Jakarta is the ASEAN headquarter, while the Philippines has constantly offered itself to host the office of the AICHR.

The attitude of the Malaysian government towards the ASEAN progress generally has not been responsive; rather it is unenthusiastic. In many events, the Malaysian government is still reluctant to take the diplomatic leap of genuinely addressing the issues.

One of the glaring examples is the appointment of Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, former SUHAKAM Commissioner as the representative of the Malaysia to the AICHR. His appointment came sudden with barely any consultation with the civil society groups. Thus far, I have not heard any comments or recommendations raised by our AICHR representative in human rights violations cases that rampantly happen in the country.

With the Charter and the AICHR now in force, is there any one of us who know how to sing the ASEAN Anthem?

How many are aware or even care to give some attention to the week-long 43^rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting that has just closed its curtain on 23 July in Hanoi, Vietnam?

How many of us know the recent launched ASEAN Computer Game called “The ASEAN Chronicles: The Legend of the Golden Talisman”?

And do you also heard of the ASEAN Basketball League, which is the first international basketball league in South-East Asia?

There have been criticisms that since its inception, ASEAN has been all about the summits and meetings, and never about its people. I echoed this sentiment.

There is undeniable a growing awareness among the ASEAN people to discover their neighboring countries through the budget airlines offering cheap air fares. But when it comes to the role and function of the ASEAN, I doubt that many are familiar.

It is pivotal that Malaysia playing the leading role in the Southeast Asia, should work harder in identifying new emerging trends, and consolidate common views and strategies in the region.

The challenge for ASEAN is simple and clear – it needs to be more interactive with the people and to be seen and hear in every single corner. The approach of the Malaysian government must change to go according to the wish of the people. All these must start within the country before it looks into the regional perspective.

At its 43rd year, unfortunately the ASEAN in the heart of Malaysians is still remaining as an alien concept. At this stage, it could be said that the attempt of the ASEAN governments to make ASEAN a people-oriented community has failed.

I personally like the idea of Termsak Chalermpalanupap, the Director of Political and Security Directorate of the ASEAN Secretariat. He suggested making August 8 a public holiday. That could be an immediate way to create awareness to the people.

The Malaysian government has a huge responsibility to popularize the idea of an ASEAN community to its citizens. Behind the success of the European Community are not only its effective implementation of its policies and most importantly the political will of its leaders.

The Malaysian should be encouraged to become familiar with the region as a whole, not only its history and culture, but also to develop admiration to the region. This could be done through educational activities for example.

ASEAN has indeed come a long way; it has created favorable conditions for the development of the region. But in order for it to move forward, the ASEAN people must feel a growing sense of common ASEAN citizenship and be more connected to each other. The Malaysian government alone cannot make it happen. Rather they should start engaging closely with all sectors in the society including the private sectors, the civil society, as well as each and every one of us, to push forward an ASEAN Community for all.

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