Lack Of Understanding On ASEAN Community Affects Economic Opportunities

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), May 22 (Bernama) -- The lack of understanding on the ASEAN community among youths will cause the country to lose substantial economic opportunities in the region that would otherwise be dominated by other parties. Deputy Director-General of the Post 2015 High Level Task Force on Asean Community National Secretariat Mohd Suhami Jaafar said more efforts were needed to enhance youths' knowledge of the ASEAN community as they would become the country's future leaders. The Asean community is a society that shares the 'ASEAN feeling', that they have common identity and strategic direction, under the auspices of a strong union. As the chair of ASEAN for 2015, Malaysia will declare the establishment of the ASEAN community by year-end. "Therefore, all of you (youths) need to understand and know about ASEAN, the ASEAN community, including the aspect of trade, the development of ASEAN environment and so on," he said at the closing ceremony of the Special ASEAN Quiz 2015 here Friday. The quiz was jointly organised by the Information Department, the Malaysian Youth Council and Foreign Affairs Ministry. Amirah Ahmad Lotfi, 22, from Selangor emerged as the winner with her topic entitled ASEAN Community: what does it mean for me?. Mohd Suhaimi said research had shown that the level of awareness among the general public in the region particularly Malaysia regarding ASEAN was low. "Most people do not know the objective of the establishment of the ASEAN Community as well as measures taken by governments in the region in making ASEAN as a community or a strong region," he said. He said, in order to address the issue, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and other related ministries were working to raise public awareness on the benefits to be derived from the establishment of the ASEAN Community. "These efforts will have no effect if the youths do not take the opportunity or do not care about current developments in the region," he said. -- BERNAMA