Thailand Hails Malaysia’s Role In ASEAN Expansion With Timor-Leste’s Expected Entry

By Nur Elysa Amirah Suhaimi and Linda Khoo

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 (Bernama) -- Thailand has commended Malaysia’s leadership as ASEAN Chair this year, praising its effective stewardship and support for Timor-Leste’s accession in October, a milestone that will mark the regional bloc’s first expansion in decades.

Thailand’s Department of Information Director-General and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura said Timor-Leste will become the 11th member of ASEAN at the 47th ASEAN Summit, scheduled to be held in October this year.

“Malaysia has worked hard and done a great job. We commend them.

“This is a milestone. It will be the first time in a very long while that another country is admitted to the ASEAN family,” he told Bernama.

ASEAN was established in 1967 by Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration in Bangkok.

Brunei joined ASEAN in 1984, followed by Vietnam (1995), Laos and Myanmar (1997) and Cambodia (1999).

Timor-Leste is now moving closer to attaining full membership in the regional bloc. Its inclusion is expected to further strengthen ASEAN’s strategic position and reinforce the bloc’s relevance as a key player on the global stage.

Timor-Leste, the youngest nation in Southeast Asia, formally applied to be a member of ASEAN in 2011, nine years after gaining independence on May 20, 2002.

In November 2022, ASEAN agreed in principle to admit Timor-Leste as its 11th member and granted it ‘observer’ status, allowing the country to participate in ASEAN meetings and plenary sessions of its summits.

With a population of about 1.3 million, Timor-Leste remains heavily reliant on oil and gas exports, although agriculture and services are increasingly contributing to national revenue.

Meanwhile, Nikorndej praised Malaysia’s stewardship as this year’s ASEAN Chair, reiterating Thailand’s appreciation for its leadership and commitment.

“We really do commend Malaysia on its initiative. Genuinely, pushing the concept of inclusivity and sustainability is very much aligned with Thailand’s agenda.

“We (Thailand) have been a long-time champion of sustainability and inclusivity,” he said.

He also lauded Malaysia, in its role as ASEAN Chair, for tasking the Geoeconomic Task Force to conduct a study and put forward strategic recommendations to overcome economic uncertainties.

“I’ve heard the recommendations, and I believe they are very productive,” he said.

The ASEAN Geoeconomic Task Force was established during the 31st ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat in Desaru, Johor, in February this year.

The task force aims to address immediate challenges facing the region and develop a coordinated response to the evolving global geoeconomic landscape.

-- BERNAMA