- The Kuala Lumpur Declaration was signed by all ASEAN members
- Vietnam to power Malaysia and Singapore
- Timor-Leste to become a full ASEAN member by the end of the year
ASEAN Special
The Kuala Lumpur Declaration is signed
All 10 member-nations of ASEAN have officially signed the region’s long-term vision dubbed the Kuala Lumpur Declaration, outlining the region’s vision for the next 20 years. The vision is structured around four main pillars, each promoting inclusivity, resilience and regional strength:
- Political security – Promoting peace, stability, and adherence to international law; enhancing ASEAN’s regional role; and safeguarding neutrality and security.
- Economic – Positioning ASEAN as the world’s fourth-largest economy by advancing innovation, digital transformation, stronger supply chains and sustainable growth.
- Socio-cultural – Fostering a cohesive and inclusive community grounded in shared identity, while championing health, social justice, gender equality, youth empowerment and cultural preservation.
- Connectivity and institutional capacity – Boosting infrastructure and digital connectivity, strengthening urban resilience and enhancing ASEAN institutions for more effective governance.
Economically wise, the Kuala Lumpur declaration still has not shed light on the region’s strategy to boost intra-ASEAN trade. Despite the ultra-low tariff between the countries, countries within the region still do not have integration of services – free movement of labour, common customs markets and a common currency, key tenets to boost trade. These kinds of initiatives require political will, and so far, no one has the balls yet. ASEAN aspire to become like the European Union (EU), but at the moment, we still kat darjah 3 while EU dah habis SPM.
For your information, the ultra-low tariff that I mentioned is related to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), established in 1992, that made way for the creation of the ASEAN free trade area, which has eliminated tariffs on 98.6% of products traded within ASEAN.
ASEAN is mulling setting up a permanent envoy in Myanmar in its bid to end the civil war
Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan has stated that he will initiate the internal consultations on the proposed idea to appoint a permanent special envoy to handle the protracted Myanmar crisis, in a shift from the current practice of rotating the role annually among member states. The proposal will end the never-ending cycle of restarting the effort to end the war every time the person in charge is rotated annually. The new proposal will designate a special envoy, who will be tasked to handle the Myanmar crisis, presumably for a three-year term. Mohamad Hasan added that if it is based on the status quo or the ‘ASEAN way’, other members prefer not to meddle in the internal affairs of other member states. However, the Myanmar civil war has spilt over to neighbouring countries (outflow of Rohingya refugees, job scams, transnational crime) that have now become an ASEAN issue. Myanmar is like the youngest sibling who always finds himself in trouble and depends on the abangs and kakaks to bail him out.
Timor Leste is almost becoming a full ASEAN member, but still never enough
Timor-Leste PM Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao said that he is optimistic that his country will become a full member of ASEAN by the end of the year. After gaining independence in 2002, Timor-Leste first applied for ASEAN membership in 2011 and was granted observer status at high-level meetings in 2022. The journey for Timor-Leste to become a full member of ASEAN is long and hard, even up to a point, even former Timor-Leste PM Jose Ramos-Horta said in 2022 that, ‘It’s easier to reach the gate of heaven than the gate of ASEAN. It seems that to join ASEAN, you must meet all the criteria to enter heaven.’
Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/05/26/timor-leste-nearing-full-asean-membership
Soon, Malaysia and Singapore will be powered by Vietnam
PM Anwar Ibrahim has witnessed the signing of the joint development agreement for power export from Vietnam to Malaysia and Singapore. The agreement will kickstart the discussion on the technical details and the business model of the whole deal, but basically, wind farms in Vietnam will power homes and businesses in Malaysia and Singapore. The ASEAN Power Grid (APG) project, which consists of proposed land and undersea cables, will be a part of the tri-nation agreement. From the Malaysian side, both PETRONAS and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) will be involved.
Purata kelajuan angin Malaysia 2m/s. Purata kelajuan angin di Vietnam boleh cecah 7m/s. So apa Malaysia buat?
Sebabkan angin di Vietnam laju, kita akan manfaatkan tenaga angin Vietnam untuk jana elektrik di Malaysia. Bekalan elektrik lebih stabil Insya-Allah in future. pic.twitter.com/vcRd8Pvi5x
— Farhan Zulkefly (@farhanzulkefly) May 26, 2025
Malaysia has initiated the FTA talks with the GCC
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz has announced that Malaysia has initiated the formal negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This is the first time Malaysia has engaged GCC as a single economic bloc, compared to the previous practice of talking to the six member-nations separately. At the moment, the bilateral trade between Malaysia and the GCC stands at USD22 bil.
Other News
Will FGV Holdings see a better future?
Felda chairperson Ahmad Shabery Cheek said that the planned takeover of FGV Holdings Bhd’s remaining shares by the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) to make the former private again will strengthen FGV’s financial position. Felda, which owns 82% of FGV Holdings, will work together with the other biggest shareholder, the Pahang State Government, which owns 5%, to achieve the 90% threshold set by Bursa Malaysia to delist FGV Holdings. Besides the Pahang government, other parties acting in concert include Felda’s wholly owned subsidiary, Felda Asset Holdings Company Sdn Bhd.
Source: https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/744440
BIMB Securities Research recommends that the remaining investors of FGV Holdings to accept Felda’s unconditional voluntary takeover offer, priced at RM1.30 per share, approximately a 10% premium over the one-year volume-weighted average market price (VWAMP).
Source: https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/756782
As the Pahang State Government is and will become a prominent player behind FGV Holdings, perhaps it is high time to propose the local breeding of wagyu meat. Recently, a Kelantan-based company called KelFarm, with the support of the Kelantan State Government, built a closed barn for 120–150 cows and focuses on sustainable research to grow local wagyu production dubbed ‘Kelgyu’. Maybe, when the Pahang State Government can call its wagyu meat as ‘Pagyu’. No pun intended.
For your EYES only
TWhat is the most important decision that you need to make in your life? – Choosing your spouse.
