Vientiane, October 10, 2024 – The Europe Today: Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on the legislatures of ASEAN member states to grant more space for their elected representatives to express their views freely. This appeal was made during the 13th ASEAN-AIPA Leaders’ Interface, held in conjunction with the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in Vientiane on Wednesday.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, speaking to reporters after the meeting, shared that Anwar emphasized the need for legislative bodies to allow unrestricted discourse among their members. “The Prime Minister said legislatures should give more space to their members to speak without limits, so their views can turn into new ideas,” Johari explained.
The interface highlighted the importance of fostering closer relations between governments and their respective legislatures to ensure the executive branch effectively responds to the people’s needs.
On regional security and cooperation, Johari stressed Malaysia’s commitment to maintaining peace and neutrality within ASEAN, ensuring the region remains attractive to investors. “We want investors to see that we are one of the most peaceful regions,” he noted.
Additionally, the meeting underscored the necessity of maximizing the ASEAN platform for technology and information exchange, benefiting all member nations. Addressing the ongoing Myanmar crisis, Johari affirmed the need for ASEAN to remain neutral while fostering dialogue and encouraging Myanmar to resolve its internal issues.
Johari also announced that he would return to Vientiane on 18 October to assume the chairmanship of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) from Laos. Reflecting on preparations for Malaysia’s chairmanship, he expressed optimism: “We have learned a lot from last year’s AIPA in Indonesia and Laos this year. Next year, we must be among the best.”
Johari is expected to return to Malaysia on Thursday, 10 October. Sources have indicated that Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr. Ramli Mohd Nor will preside over the 18 October parliamentary session, during which Budget 2025 will be tabled. The next parliamentary meeting is scheduled to run from 14 October to 12 December.