KUALA LUMPUR: Asean has emerged as a trusted platform by global superpowers and countries are “queuing” up to sign up as partners to the regional group, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
The Foreign Minister said many countries want to be a partner of Asean by acceding to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation of Southeast Asia (TAC), so much so the grouping had to put a moratorium on it.
“Asean has the trust of global superpowers. We are known as a region of peace and good economic growth.
“Countries are lining up to sign the TAC as this is the first step of being a partner to Asean,” he said at a press conference at the conclusion of the Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting and Related Meetings yesterday.
While the current practice is not to take new partners as dialogue partners, Mohamad said Asean is giving an exception to one or two countries to be a partner to the regional group.
“Some dialogue partners can bring added value to Asean. So, we are not too rigid in our moratorium,” added Mohamad.
He said Algeria and Uruguay officially acceded to the TAC, marking their formal commitment to principles of peaceful cooperation and regional harmony.
“As of now, 57 countries have become parties to the TAC,” added Mohamad.
He said 21 meetings involving Asean and its external partners were held at this meeting.
Mohamad said he held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Algeria, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, China, Japan, New Zealand, Palestine, the Philippines, Switzerland, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay.
He also stressed on the importance of maintaining neutrality as a trading nation.
“Our economy is based on trade. We cannot be seen as leaning toward anyone. The United States has the largest investment and China has been our largest trading partner for many years.
“We have to navigate our foreign policy so as not to be seen as leaning toward anyone,” he said.
On the tariff issue, Mohamad said the United States prefers to hold negotiations separately with countries, and not as a group.
“Each country must negotiate for themselves. The United States seems more comfortable negotiating this way.
“We hope we will be able to negotiate well and decide on it fast,” added Mohamad.
Malaysia, as Asean Chair, will once again host the regional summit – the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits in October.
On another matter, Mohamad said Malaysia will fully enforce regulations pertaining to illegal ship-to-ship transfer of crude oil in Malaysian waters beginning this month, as per Cabinet decision.
He said ships caught doing this will face fines and the vessels held.
“We do not want to be accused of being a country that facilitates these activities. We will defend our waters so such actions can be prevented,” Mohamad said.
He acknowledged that there will be quarters upset with this policy, adding regardless, Malaysia will enforce the ruling.
