Latest news with #ASEAN-GCCSummit
The Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Malaysia and ASEAN push for UN Security Council veto power reforms
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia, alongside ASEAN member states, is advocating for reforms to the veto power held by the five permanent members (P5) of the United Nations Security Council. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan highlighted that while resolutions on Gaza receive majority support in the UN General Assembly, their execution is often stalled due to vetoes by China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US. 'Unfortunately, this veto power was used even though the resolution was unanimously approved at the UN General Assembly. 'That is why we are proposing that this veto power be overhauled and changed,' Mohamad said during a Dewan Rakyat session. The proposal follows Malaysia's diplomatic success at the ASEAN-GCC Summit, where a joint statement on Gaza was issued for the first time. 'Previously, it was difficult to get a joint statement among ASEAN countries. But now we have succeeded in doing so,' he added. Malaysia is also collaborating with Japan and Korea to address Gaza's humanitarian crisis. - Bernama
Barnama
3 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Malaysia, ASEAN Propose Reforming UN P5 Veto Power Countries
KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysia, together with ASEAN member states, is proposing reforms to the veto power held by the five permanent members (P5) of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. According to him, although resolutions relating to the Gaza issue were passed with majority support in the UN General Assembly, their implementation was often delayed due to the use of veto power by the permanent members of the UN Security Council, consisting of China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. "Unfortunately, this veto power was used even though the resolution was unanimously approved at the UN General Assembly. "That is why we are proposing that this veto power be overhauled and changed. This is what we are doing," he said during a question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today. Mohamad said this in response to a supplementary question by Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai) on Wisma Putra's further actions following the resolution of the ASEAN-GCC Summit which touched on the atrocities of the Zionist regime. Explaining further, he said the recent ASEAN-GCC Summit marked the success of Malaysian diplomacy in which a joint statement was issued on the Gaza issue for the first time. "Previously, it was difficult to get a joint statement among ASEAN countries. But now we have succeeded in doing so, including holding a joint conference with Japan and Korea to discuss the issue of the people of Gaza," he said. He said Malaysia is now actively strengthening cooperation with like-minded countries to voice its stance on the Gaza issue consistently at the international level. — BERNAMA
The Diplomat
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Diplomat
On Regional Tensions, Don't Expect Too Much of ASEAN
In the last week of May, Southeast Asia witnessed a series of significant diplomatic developments. Multiple ASEAN-led meetings were convened in Kuala Lumpur, including the ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN-GCC Summit, and the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit. Immediately following these meetings, the Shangri-La Dialogue defense conference 2025 took place in Singapore. During the same week, Thai and Cambodian troops skirmished along a disputed part of their nations' border, leaving one Cambodian soldier dead. These incidents – alongside the ongoing conflict in Myanmar and persistent maritime clashes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea – underscore the increasingly dynamic and complex security environment facing the region. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is well-positioned to play an active role in managing, though not solving, these regional conflicts. While some believe that ASEAN should attempt to resolve such conflicts, it is important to clarify that ASEAN was established primarily as a conflict management platform. It is not structured, nor is it equipped, for conflict resolution in the traditional sense, given the nature of its operating and decision-making mechanisms. To understand ASEAN's limitations in resolving conflicts, we must revisit the rationale behind its formation and the foundational principles that guide its operations. ASEAN was founded in August 1967, in the aftermath of the Indonesia–Malaysia Konfrontasi and during the intensification of the Vietnam War. Its aim was to foster peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. Its five founding members – Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines – envisioned it as a platform for regional confidence-building. Initially, ASEAN focused on cooperation on socio-economic and cultural matters. Since the end of the Cold War, ASEAN has expanded to include all Southeast Asian nations, with the last remaining outlier, Timor-Leste, expected to become a full member by the end of 2025. It has also broadened its multilateral engagements through various mechanisms – such as the ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting, the ASEAN Political-Security Community, and the ASEAN Community – which aim to facilitate dialogue on security and economic cooperation. These forums allow for inclusive discussions and trust-building but often stop short of producing concrete and binding outcomes, particularly on contentious geopolitical matters. Two core principles define ASEAN's identity: non-intervention in the internal affairs of member states, and consensus-based decision-making. These enduring and pragmatic principles have enabled ASEAN to remain an inclusive and sustainable organization. ASEAN's approach to regional disputes stems from these principles, as demonstrated in the Five-Point Consensus plan addressing the Myanmar conflict, and in the ongoing negotiations over an ASEAN-China Code of Conduct for the South China Sea. The Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar was adopted in April 2021, three months after the Myanmar military's coup d'état, when ASEAN leaders reached a collective agreement on how to manage the Myanmar crisis, though the Consensus lacks binding and enforceable actions. Meanwhile, negotiations for the ASEAN-China Code of Conduct have spanned over two decades, illustrating both the inclusive nature of ASEAN's consensus-based approach, which values every member's input, and the inherent difficulty of reaching unified agreement on complex and sensitive issues. Moreover, external actors such as China, the United States, and the European Union continue to exert influence on ASEAN's internal dynamics, further complicating the process of establishing unified regional positions. It is therefore necessary to temper expectations regarding ASEAN's capacity to resolve deeply rooted regional issues. ASEAN and its mechanisms were never intended for such a role. The bloc lacks binding legal instruments and enforcement capabilities, and its consensus-based approach means that it is often hampered by divergent political priorities among member states, particularly on issues that touch upon their core national interests. In light of these structural limitations, ASEAN cannot be expected to assume a greater role in managing today's regional security challenges. Instead, its value lies in providing an important platform for fostering dialogues and confidence-building measures. While limited in yielding immediate and context-specific tangible outcomes, these remain essential for long-term regional stability.
Daily Tribune
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain Cabinet Reviews Tougher Traffic Penalties in Weekly Meeting
The Cabinet, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, reviewed proposed amendments to Bahrain's traffic laws aimed at increasing penalties for serious traffic violations. During the weekly Cabinet session held at Gudaibiya Palace, the Cabinet discussed a memorandum presented by the Minister of Interior in response to directives from HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The memorandum calls for tougher legal measures targeting violations that result in injuries or fatalities, with increased fines and stricter sentencing. The amendments will also address dangerous driving behaviors that pose a risk to public safety, aiming to reduce road accidents and protect lives. The proposed legislative changes are part of a broader national effort to prioritize traffic law enforcement and public safety, reinforcing the government's commitment to safeguarding all road users. In other matters, the Cabinet extended its Eid Al-Adha greetings to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the people of Bahrain, and praised Saudi Arabia's preparations for the Hajj season, which have improved organizational readiness and enhanced services for pilgrims. The Cabinet also lauded the outcomes of the second ASEAN-GCC Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, where HRH Prince Salman led Bahrain's delegation. The Cabinet highlighted HRH's visionary remarks calling for global cooperation on sustainable development and an international treaty to govern artificial intelligence ethically. Further, the Cabinet emphasized the importance of HRH's recent visit to Malaysia, including key meetings with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as a boost to bilateral ties between Bahrain and Malaysia. Domestically, the Cabinet reaffirmed its support for Bahrain's media sector, congratulating the winners of the 2025 Prime Minister's Press Award and the Bahrain Journalists Association on its 25th anniversary. It also recognized the achievements of top-performing students for the 2024–2025 academic year and commended the Ministry of Education's modern teaching practices. In recognition of World Environment Day, the Cabinet reiterated its commitment to sustainable development and environmental preservation through innovative policy solutions. Additionally, the Cabinet reviewed and approved several key memorandums related to: The session concluded with the Cabinet reviewing reports on Bahrain's recent international engagements, including ministerial visits, global summits, and preparations for the Bahrain International Airshow 2026.
Fibre2Fashion
01-06-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Raise Vietnam-Oman Investment Fund scale to $1 bn: PM Pham Minh Chinh
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh recently proposed to the Oman Investment Authority (OIA) that Oman should expand and increase the scale of the Vietnam-Oman Investment Fund (VOI) to $1 billion to support development in the Southeast Asian country. The proposal came at a reception hosted by the prime minister for visiting OIA deputy president for operations Nasser bin Suliman Al Harthi in Hanoi. Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh recently proposed to the Oman Investment Authority that Oman should expand and increase the scale of the Vietnam-Oman Investment Fund to $1 billion to support development in the Southeast Asian country. The proposal came at a reception hosted by the prime minister for visiting OIA deputy president for operations Nasser bin Suliman Al Harthi in Hanoi. Though Oman is one of Vietnam's top potential partners in the Middle East, there is still significant room to expand bilateral collaboration, noted the said prime minister. He said that during his meetings with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) secretary general and leaders from the Gulf region at the second ASEAN-GCC Summit in Kuala Lumpur, both sides vowed to promptly initiate negotiations on a Vietnam-GCC free trade agreement, while also exploring investment protection agreements and fostering stronger ties in areas like digital transformation, renewable energy, financial and green economy centres and high-tech agriculture, according to a domestic media report. VOI has been operating for more than 17 years in Vietnam. OIA has collaborated with the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) to establish the Vietnam New Era Growth Fund, with a minimum capital of $200 million. The OIA deputy president affirmed that the fund will prioritise investments in potential sectors like technology, telecommunications, finance, agriculture and digital transformation in Vietnam. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
