ASEAN's Togetherness Benefits Members, Says Indonesia

LANGKAWI, April 28 (Bernama) -- The togetherness of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries to achieve a single community vision will benefit the region well, said Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla. Jusuf, who is representing president Joko Widodo for the Langkawi part of the 26th ASEAN summit here, said each country under the grouping is well-positioned to take advantage of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) as they complement each other's strength. "For example, Malaysia has a good financial system and infrastructure while Indonesia had vast market with a highly competitive workforce," he told reporters after the closing ceremony of the 26th ASEAN Summit here Monday. Besides being integrated in terms of economy, he also highlighted that ASEAN must move as one to tackle the issues of radicalism and terrorism. Meanwhile, when asked whether ASEAN would be sending rescue and medical teams to help earthquake victims in Nepal, he said there was no final decision made as yet but there was already a consensus on this among its leaders. "Even though, there is no concrete decision yet, ASEAN leaders are agreeable to the idea. Indonesia is prepared to mobilise a team to be sent there," said Jusuf. Earlier Monday, National Security Council (NSC) secretary Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab said the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), which was mobilised to assist rescue efforts for earthquake victims in Nepal, departed for Kathmandu at 6.30 am Monday. The earthquake which measured 7.9 on the Richter scale hit Nepal in the areas between the capital, Kathmandu and Pokharaat 2.56 pm (Malaysian time) on Saturday with several after shocks occuring. So far, the tragedy, the worst to have hit Nepal in the last 81 years, recorded 3,218 deaths and over 6,500 people injured. -- BERNAMA