KLUANG: Asean must remain neutral to any major world power to maintain stability in the Southeast Asian region, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The Defence Minister said Asean is a balancer of power and a contributor to peace and stability in the region.
"Without the close cooperation among members of this 10-member grouping, the region is easily headed towards chaos. That is why the principle of Asean centrality needs to be respected and preserved.
"Asean should not be disturbed, be pushed around, or be influenced by any superpower,” he told reporters on Friday (Sept 6).
The minister stated that an Asean member country would face difficulties if it had to deal with major threats alone without the support and cooperation of other members of the grouping.
Earlier, Mohamed Khaled attended the closing of the LTAT Contributors' Week: Southern Tour 2024 organised by the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) in Kluang.
The LTAT Contributors' Week: Southern Tour 2024, which began on Sept 2, ended today with some 3,500 visitors recorded, mostly military personnel and their families.
At the event, Mohamed Khaled also launched the LTAT Contributors Report. – Bernama
