The AEC – end of 2015 and beyond

Munir, who is chairman of Asean Business Advisory Council, delivering his at the Asean Business Advisory Council Malaysia Conference on SMEs and the AEC in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

WHEN one starts to look at the Asean Economic Community (AEC) from the end of 2015 and beyond, there are shades of Hamlet in the exercise.

The sheets will still be warm as one slips in to imagine what the AEC might be like this time next year and to consider challenges beyond 2015. There is still 2015, the year in which Malaysia is the chair of the regional grouping and hopes to make a difference. While, unlike in Hamlet, I do not expect there will be a tragedy, I sincerely hope there will not be a comedy either. When the establishment of the AEC is pronounced at the end of 2015, there must be sufficient substance such that there will be no hissing and sneering as if it is a joke.