25th Lecture - ASEAN’s Historical Journey and Malaysia’s Chairmanship with Tan Syed Hamid Albar

Date: Friday, 22 April 2025

Time: 09.00 - 11.00 (GMT +7)

Platform: Hybrid (In-person at Universiti Malaya and online on Zoom Meeting and Youtube Livestream)

Speaker: Tan Syed Hamid Albar, Malaysia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs (1999-2008); Minister of Home Affairs (2008-2009); Minister of Defence (1995-1999)

Moderator: Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, Founder and Chairman of FPCI

ASEAN’s Foundational Purpose and Global Positioning

We only look at what is happening closer to us. So, all the things that is taking place in Europe, we tend to ignore. So now we are seeing that that is not possible. We cannot isolate ourselves. We have to be part of the world. We have to be in the mainstream in order for us to be able to play a role. This topic that I have chosen to speak is about the topic on ASEAN historical journey and relations, which I think is symbolically relevant to the topic at hand. I think in a time of rising wars between nations, I remember when our founding fathers started to think about ASEAN in 1967, It was, for one reason: We do not want to be under the dominance or hegemonic control of any big powers. That was the essence, the core and fundamental principle of our formation. We said we do not want to become a platform for big power rivalry.

The “ASEAN Way” and Its Diplomatic Approach

This called, if I think for the young people, this what sometimes frustrates the European but we understood it very well. We call it the ASEAN way. Never be aggressive, never be confrontational but engaging with dialogue and diplomacy. The ASEAN way with the emphasis, the emphasis of the ASEAN way is dialogue and most importantly, mutual respect. This one has been instrumental in my view in maintaining our regional stability. We value harmony over haste, relationship and rhetoric. It doesn't seek to be popular but it wants to get its work done.

Future Challenges: Unity, Trust, and ASEAN Centrality

The greatest threat to ASEAN is the lack of trust, the trust deficit. In our lack of unity and cohesion, not in our individual national interest context, but in the regional interest context because we are strong as a group, not as individual nations. It is vital, in my view, to reaffirm ASEAN centrality not as a passive neutrality or inaction, but as a deliberate values-driven framework for regional stability and cooperation. Centrality in ASEAN is not a given. It must be continually earned through sustained internal cohesion.