ASLI Strategist July 2014.Indd
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Vol 2 2014: June PP 8307/12/2012(032066) www.asli.com.my The Prime Minister and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor at the National Economic Summit jointly organised Chairman of the ASEAN Leadership Forum and CEO of ASLI Tan Sri Michael Yeoh accompanying Indonesia’s by ASLI and Bernama. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and President of Myanmar U Thein Sein to the ALF Opening Dinner. Chairman of ASLI with HRH Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah of Perak Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin officiating Jeffrey ASLI CEO Tan Sri Michael Yeoh greeting President Aquino of the at the JCI lnaugural Conference dinner co-organised by JCI and Cheah Institute Inaugural Conference co-organised by ASLI with Philippines. ASLI. ASLI Chairman and JCI Founder Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah. ASLI CEO Tan Sri Michael Yeoh accompanying Tun Dr. Mahathir ASLI CEO Tan Sri Michael Yeoh calling on the Prime Minister of ASLI Senior Vice President Mr. Max Say greeting the Prime Minister Mohamad to call on the Vice President of China Li Yuanchao at the Singapore Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana Singapore. of Turkey HE Recep Erdogan. Great Hall of the People in Beijing in May 2014. ...more inside ASLI ORGANISES 11th ASEAN LEADERSHIP FORUM The Presidents of Indonesia and Myanmar and Ministers from ASEAN member states at the ALF Opening. ASEAN Leadership Forum Chairman & ASLI CEO Tan Sri Michael Yeoh greeting the President of Myanmar HE U Thein Sein with UMFCCI President and ASEAN Business Advisory Council Chairman U Win Aung looking on. ASLI’s Senior Vice President Mr. Max Say greeting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono whilst Tan Sri Tan Sri Michael Yeoh with Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Maung Lwin and ABAC Chairman U Win Aung Michael Yeoh and Ms Jean Wong look on. at the Forum. The 11th ASEAN Leadership Forum (ALF) was held on the May 11- seen as a work-in-progress in order to keep the region relevant when 12th, 2014 at Nay Pyi Taw - the capital city of Myanmar, who is also the responding to challenges. Malaysia, the Chairman of ASEAN in 2015, Chair of ASEAN this year. The forum was graced by the presence of the will be focusing on a “People-Centred ASEAN,” according to H.E. Dato’ President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, H.E. U Thein Sein Seri Anifah Aman in a Special Address. On the growing divergence and the President of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Susilo Bambang within ASEAN, H.E. Dato’ Seri Anifah Aman urged all stakeholders Yudhoyono. to be mindful of the underlying economic challenges, and called for cooperation and support in charting the future of AEC. This two-day forum was co-organised by ASLI, led by its CEO and Chairman of ALF, Tan Sri Dr Michael Yeoh, and The Republic of the The first of four panel discussions centred on the “ASEAN Economic Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry Community - Creating Regional Prosperity, Resilience and Opportunities” (UMFCCI), led by its President and Chairman of ASEAN Business theme. The speakers noted that the 600 million strong AEC represents Advisory Council, U Win Aung. Other distinguished guests were a diversity in resources, but stressed deeper integration and connection H.E. Dato’ Seri Anifah Aman, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia, within the region in order for its potential to be fully unleashed. Action Cambodia Senior Minister Chantol Sun on behalf of Prime Minister of plans and infrastructure listings are called upon as means to reduce Cambodia, and Gregory So, Secretary for Commerce and Economic imbalances of plans and actions taken with respect to the AEC. Development, The Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Diplomatic and political challenges were the focus in the second panel discussions, entitled “Political Leadership in ASEAN - Role of In an Opening Speech, H.E. U Thein Sein expressed his commitment to Government and Think Tanks towards the ASEAN Political & Security Myanmar’s Chairmanship of ASEAN with the theme “Moving Forward Community.” This session investigated the role of think tanks and in Unity to a Peaceful and Prosperous Community,” and reminded that government towards completing the Political & Security Community the realisation of the ASEAN Community (AEC) by 2015 should be (PSC). Issues such as the response of ASEAN towards the South China UMFCCI President and ABAC Chairman U Win Aung welcoming Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Dato Seri Ministers from Cambodia and Indonesia at the Forum. Anifah Aman. 2 ASLI ORGANISES 11th ASEAN LEADERSHIP FORUM ASLI CEO Tan Sri Michael Yeoh presenting a memento to Senior Minister, Cambodia H.E. Chantol MITI Minister Dato Seri Mustapa Mohamad speaking at the Forum. Looking on are Tan Sri Dr. Munir Sun whilst Dato Seri Anifah Aman, U Win Aung and Hong Kong Secretary for Commerce and Economic Majid Chairman CIMB ASEAN Research Institute and Dr. Serge Pun Chairman Yoma Strategic Holdings. Development Gregory So look on. From right: ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Delia Albert, Singapore MP Penny Low, GMMF CEO Dato GMMF Chairman Tan Sri Razali Ismail and other panellists at the Forum. Saifudin Abdullah, ASLI Senior Vice President Ms Ng Yeen Seen and IDEAS President Tunku Abidin. Sea territorial disputes and the armed religious conflict in southern partnership and cooperation could be carried out within ASEAN. This Philippines were discussed. Some non-traditional security threats such session served as a conclusion of the forum and attempts were made as isolated ethnic relations were emphasised. This session concluded to maximize the achievements of discussion over the last sessions. that ASEAN as a whole should play a larger role both in the international Various proposals, particularly on infrastructure and technology, were community and domestically. Think tanks in this regard could facilitate discussed with regards to increasing ASEAN connectivity. Panellists cooperation with government as long as financing is sustainable. also discussed the need to integrate communities into one single ASEAN community, and to strengthen Public-Private Partnerships The third session, titled “Toward a People-Centered ASEAN - The (PPP) to encourage connectivity, adoption of technology and innovation Viewpoints of Women and Emerging Young Leaders in Achieving the and the streamlining of regulatory framework to increase the overall ASEAN Social and Cultural Community” investigated profoundly how connectivity among businesses in ASEAN. gender and youth empowerment issues should be addressed through the ASEAN Social and Cultural Community. This session emphasised H.E. U Wunna Maung Lwin, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Union of that concerns from women, the youth and other social groups must be Myanmar presented the Closing Speech where he praised the progress addressed in order to promote a sense of belonging to ASEAN. Panellists of ASEAN in establishing itself as a Small-and-Medium Enterprise echoed with each other on the need to improve education in terms of (SME) Service Centre. This is crucial to the competitiveness of ASEAN tertiary education and research, arts education and knowledge transfer. given an estimated 96% of businesses are SMEs in the region. H.E. On the other hand, the youth should be empowered to participate in U Wunna Maung Lwin also reassured that the recommendations put ASEAN and there should be ASEAN core values to guide the youth in forward throughout the forum will be useful in formulating the agenda their decision-making and become more ASEAN conscious. for post-2015 ASEAN. The private sector will also be actively engaged in ensuring the successful implementation of the Masterplan on ASEAN In the last session, titled “Enhancing ASEAN Connectivity and Regional Connectivity - the key to creating a sense of belonging to ASEAN. Partnerships”, the speakers looked specifically into how closer U Win Aung presenting a memento to Minister of National Planning CEO ASEAN Standard Chartered Bank Mr. Lim Cheng Teik, From left: Mr. Razali Johari from Brunei, Mr. Alexander Wan of Dr. Kan Zaw. President GE ASEAN Mr. Stuart Dean and Ms Khine Khine Nwe Joint China Daily, Dato Ramesh Kodammal Co-Chairman ASEAN-India Secretary General of UMFCCI and Myanmar Investment Commission Business Council and Dr. Doan Duy Khuong Vice Executive President member. Vietnam Chamber of Commerce & Industry. 3 NATIONAL ECONOMIC SUMMIT The Prime Minister with organisers and sponsors of the National Economic Summit. ASLI Chairman Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah presenting a memento to the Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib The Prime Minister speaking with Dato Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah, Tan Sri whilst Communications and Multimedia Minister Dato Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek looks on. Michael Yeoh and BERNAMA Chairman Dato Abdul Rahman Sulaiman. The Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak, in his keynote had also stressed his determination to make government more address at the National Economic Summit & Dialogue with the Prime efficient while extended his willingness to work across the political Minister of Malaysia held on 7 March, 2014 at the Sheraton Imperial divide in fighting corruption. Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, reassured the public that the issue of rising cost of living will be the core focus of the government’s economic On the issue of policy communication, the Prime Minister had pointed policies. out that the silent majority should speak up for the policies that they support and also highlighted the need to send the government’s The Prime Minister underscored at the beginning of his hour-long messages more clearly to the people. Alluding to the timeliness of speech the urgency to better manage public finances through this Summit, the Prime Minister had wanted to take the “opportunity subsidy rationalisation and the introduction of Goods and Services to speak through this platform to the rakyat,” and demonstrated his Tax (GST) at 6% in 2015. These measures are necessary to bring determination to take difficult decisions for the nation’s long-term down public debt and spending while the resulting savings could interests.