A test of Malaysia’s leadership of Asean

Back when: Following a coup in Cambodia, its entry into Asean was deferred, with Asean members standing firm against pressure from Phnom Penh. In the end, Cambodia only made it into Asean in 1999.

IN 1997, Malaysia was chair of Asean and hosted the Asean Ministerial Meetings (AMM), an annual gathering of the grouping’s foreign ministers at which they review community-building efforts, strategic future directions, and the conduct of the grouping’s external relations.

It was an exciting time for us journalists covering this meeting because three countries, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, were to officially join Asean at that July meeting. It was a historic event. Asean leaders during their summit in Bangkok in 1995 said the admission of these countries would serve the long term interest of regional peace, stability, and prosperity.