MM:
Eight in 10 Malaysians see Asean becoming irrelevant in world political, economic affairs
An overwhelming 80.6 per cent of Malaysians surveyed recently said that Asean is becoming irrelevant as a regional political and economic bloc. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
Sunday, 12 Feb 2023 3:28 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 — An overwhelming 80.6 per cent of Malaysians surveyed recently said that Asean is becoming irrelevant as a regional political and economic bloc because it is slow and ineffective in addressing current world affairs after the Covid-19 pandemic, like the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Another 72.6 per cent also worry that Asean members will be used by the world’s major powers to fight a proxy war in the region, the Asean Studies Centre (ASC) at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute based in Singapore said in “The State of Southeast Asia 2023 Survey Report” released yesterday.
For six out of 10 Malaysians, Asean is becoming increasingly disunited, while five out of 10 say what the association does is disconnected from the lives of regular citizens.
The study tracked the fears of the Malaysian respondents in comparison to the region as a whole, with the top concerns of the average South-east Asian falling towards Asean being slow and ineffective (82.6 per cent), the region becoming an arena for competition among world powers (73 per cent), and the disunity among Asean member states (60.7 per cent).
“The sense that Asean is simply reactive to external developments, unable to effect change, and becoming irrelevant in the new world order is felt strongest by Vietnam at 93.4 per cent and Singapore at 89.9 per cent,” the report said.
Indonesia and Thailand expressed the same line of fears as Malaysia did, with similar scores as Malaysia for each concern regarding Asean.
The sense that Asean is becomingly increasingly disunited was one shared by 60.7 per cent of all respondents and may be related to differing stances of member states on world events, the survey found.
“First, Asean countries adopted different country positions on the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022. This is evident in the different country voting positions at the UN and the absence of a strong regional response.
“Second, Asean’s lack of unified response to the Myanmar crisis that started with the 2021 coup has not gone unnoticed by observers,” it added.
Last year, Malaysia’s concerns for Asean were similar to those expressed in the results of the report this year: It being slow and ineffective (71.1 per cent); worry that the region would be unable to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic (58.5 per cent); that Asean would become an arena for the world powers (54.8 per cent); that the association is elitist (45.9 per cent); and that it is becoming increasingly disunited (41.5 per cent).
A total of 1,308 South-east Asians were surveyed, 9.5 per cent of them from Malaysia.
Respondents were academics, researchers, regional or international organisations personnel, government officials, and representatives from civil societies, non-government organisations, media and business or finance sectors.
Established in 1968, the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute is a regional centre dedicated to the study of socio-political, security, and economic trends and developments in South-east Asia and its wider geostrategic and economic environment.
Sunday, 12 Feb 2023 3:28 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 — An overwhelming 80.6 per cent of Malaysians surveyed recently said that Asean is becoming irrelevant as a regional political and economic bloc because it is slow and ineffective in addressing current world affairs after the Covid-19 pandemic, like the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Another 72.6 per cent also worry that Asean members will be used by the world’s major powers to fight a proxy war in the region, the Asean Studies Centre (ASC) at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute based in Singapore said in “The State of Southeast Asia 2023 Survey Report” released yesterday.
For six out of 10 Malaysians, Asean is becoming increasingly disunited, while five out of 10 say what the association does is disconnected from the lives of regular citizens.
The study tracked the fears of the Malaysian respondents in comparison to the region as a whole, with the top concerns of the average South-east Asian falling towards Asean being slow and ineffective (82.6 per cent), the region becoming an arena for competition among world powers (73 per cent), and the disunity among Asean member states (60.7 per cent).
“The sense that Asean is simply reactive to external developments, unable to effect change, and becoming irrelevant in the new world order is felt strongest by Vietnam at 93.4 per cent and Singapore at 89.9 per cent,” the report said.
Indonesia and Thailand expressed the same line of fears as Malaysia did, with similar scores as Malaysia for each concern regarding Asean.
The sense that Asean is becomingly increasingly disunited was one shared by 60.7 per cent of all respondents and may be related to differing stances of member states on world events, the survey found.
“First, Asean countries adopted different country positions on the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022. This is evident in the different country voting positions at the UN and the absence of a strong regional response.
“Second, Asean’s lack of unified response to the Myanmar crisis that started with the 2021 coup has not gone unnoticed by observers,” it added.
Last year, Malaysia’s concerns for Asean were similar to those expressed in the results of the report this year: It being slow and ineffective (71.1 per cent); worry that the region would be unable to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic (58.5 per cent); that Asean would become an arena for the world powers (54.8 per cent); that the association is elitist (45.9 per cent); and that it is becoming increasingly disunited (41.5 per cent).
A total of 1,308 South-east Asians were surveyed, 9.5 per cent of them from Malaysia.
Respondents were academics, researchers, regional or international organisations personnel, government officials, and representatives from civil societies, non-government organisations, media and business or finance sectors.
Established in 1968, the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute is a regional centre dedicated to the study of socio-political, security, and economic trends and developments in South-east Asia and its wider geostrategic and economic environment.
Don't try to force a square peg into a round hole.
ReplyDeleteASEAN is primarily an economic association. Right from its founding, it has been the understanding that on international political matters, members would consult and try to coordinate with each other, but retain the right to maintain their own foreign policy.
As far as positions on Russia's war against Ukraine, much of Asean has adopted a form of neutrality, which I accept is the right stance.
Apart from Singapore , none have imposed sanctions on Russia, but nobody has come out supporting Russia.
Vietnam, for example, refused to provide its large stockpile Soviet/Russian standard munitions to support Russia.
A large majority of Malaysians support Russia, including the narrative that the West started this war, and all countries must stop supporting Ukraine. Which is why they cannot accept ASEAN neutrality on the issue.
The Malaysian Government, however, regardless of which administration, PN or PH, understands full well that for Malaysia actually supporting Russia on their war in Ukraine is completely untenable, and could amount to economic suicide for Malaysia.
"force a square peg into a round hole"
ReplyDeleteWow…
In real life circumstances, politic is an extension of economics. & war is the ultimate display of incoherency within politic.
So where is the square peg? Where is that round hole?
For a know-nothing short-sighted Yankee myrmidon, every issue must be Yankee centric, irregardless of circumspect truths.
China is now the largest trading partner with ASEAN. In 2021, the total merchandise trade between ASEAN and China reached US$ 669 billion, registering a year-on-year increase of 29 percent despite the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Know nothing mfer, take some minutes of yr boring routine to read
Asia Pacific's Time: Responding to the new reality - PWC
To get a proper prospective to drown yr fart!
RedDot is superficially playing Yankee sanctions on Russia. She has no choice - she has US military base & hand tied militia-econ cooperation treaties with uncle Sam. All these pacts work against RedDot's any signs of inattendancy to Yankee whishes.
Openly Vietnam has not responded to any Russia helps. But behind the scenes, do u know how much Russia cheap oil has Vietnam bought?
Ooop… yr know-nothing has extended into the complex international political maneuverability.
U read Yankee propagandas & shallow wholesome the shots - with the help of yr limitless Yankee adoration.