PM Hopes This Year's ALF Helps Define Ideas For Post 2015 Vision

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak hopes this year's ASEAN Leadership Forum (ALF) will help to define ideas for the post-2015 vision for ASEAN. "The deliberations at the ALF can be very useful inputs and feedback for the leaders," he said in a special message at the 12th ALF here Sunday, delivered by ALF chairman Tan Sri Michael Yeoh. He said the ALF had become institutionalised as a leading regional programme, bringing together government, business, civil society and thought leaders to deliberate on the future of ASEAN and debate the issues and driving forces shaping the future of ASEAN. "I am confident that the ALF will continue to play a vital role in being a bridge between government, business and civil society in the region," he said. Najib said the two-day forum would enable the business community to be updated on new developments in ASEAN and the prospects ahead arising from the full implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by end of this year. The forum themed 'Forward ASEAN: One Community, One Vision, One People' was graced by Sultan of Perak (Ruler of Perak), Sultan Nazrin Shah. ALF is an annual forum held in conjunction with the April Summit each year bringing together leaders from government, business, academia and civil society to transform and discuss on key issues and strategic challenges facing ASEAN. Also present were Myanmar President U Thein Sein, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive C. Y. Leung, Philippines Secretary of the Trade and Industry Department, Gregory L Domingo and Laos Industry and Commerce Minister, Khemmani Pholsena. As Chair of ASEAN, Najib said Malaysia hoped to focus on a people centred ASEAN so that ASEAN became more relevant to its ordinary people and develop a sense of "ASEANess". --BERNAMA