Malaysia Can Be Proud Of Its ASEAN Chairmanship - Foreign Ministry

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysia can be proud of its achievements in realising its main role during the ASEAN chairmanship this year, says Wisma Putra (Foreign Ministry). Wisma Putra said this was proven through its initiative to make it a 'People-Centred ASEAN' which was well received by ASEAN leaders who followed the 'Kuala Lumpur Declaration on a People-Oriented, People-Centred ASEAN'. "The ASEAN leaders also adopted the 'Langkawi Declaration on Global Moderation' at the 26th ASEAN summit emphasising the importance of moderation as a comprehensive approach to promoting peace," the foreign ministry said in a written reply which was circulated in the Dewan Rakyat (Malaysia's House of Representatives) Tuesday. Wisma Putra said Malaysia was highly regarded by countries in the region as ASEAN Chairman and the ASEAN leaders had expressed confidence in Prime Minister Najib Razak, particularly in steering the region to pursue a new era in the history of ASEAN. With more or less two months before Malaysia ended its responsibilities as ASEAN Chairman, it said it was pleased to inform the august house that the country had succeeded in fulfilling its role and almost all of the priorities set. Wisma Putra said this in a written reply to a question from Noor Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun Narrashid (BN-Kota Tinggi). Earlier, Wisma Putra said Malaysia had outlined two main roles, and eight issues which supported the ASEAN chairmanship, namely ensuring the implementation of the line of action in the three ASEAN Community Plans of Action and the Road Map (2009-2015), as well as efforts to develop the Post-2015 ASEAN Community Vision. It said the process of developing a Post-2015 ASEAN Community Vision was resolved after ASEAN leaders declared the new vision, namely 'ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together', aimed at strengthening ASEAN's integration process over the next 10 years. The document was approved during the 27th ASEAN Summit, as well as related summits held from Nov 18 to 22 this year. -- BERNAMA