Call On ASEAN Member Countries To Start Focusing On Regional Economic Integration

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) -- ASEAN member countries should start focusing on regional economic integration and putting their self-interest behind, Malaysia's New Strait Times Group Managing Editor Abdul Jalil Hamid said. "You see in every ASEAN summit, the leaders hold their hands together and said 'we will endorse this deliberation and so on'. But, I think the political reality on the ground, the execution is still a big issue," he said. He said the political will manifested led each country to protect and defend their interests, given the bureaucracy and government's directives. However, he is optimistic that ASEAN economic integration could be achieved although it might take a longer time to be realised. Abdul Jalil was speaking at the ASEAN Editors' Summit 2016 on Tuesday, which is jointly organised by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia and the Jakarta-based ASEAN Secretariat. He was one of the speakers at a session entitled 'Driving ASEAN Economic Integration' which was moderated by Malaysia Global Business Forum chairman Yong Soo Heong. Going forward, Abdul Jalil said some challenges, including creating a single market and production base with greater regional diversity should be addressed. This makes it difficult for ASEAN economies to proceed along similar tracks of liberalisation and integration, using similar timeframe, he added. Although the AEC is a key step in spurring productivity and competitiveness, it is still insufficient to remove all barriers to trade, he said, adding that, "More needed to be done." Another speaker, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Deputy Editor-in-Chief (Economic News Service) Mikhail Raj Abdullah said policy makers cannot treat the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) or for that matter ASEAN, as 'something on the side, but must be part of a country's mainstream economy." "The AEC must be reflected in the trade policies, annual budgets, financial policies of respective governments. They also have to think ASEAN. "Perhaps, they can seriously consider tax concessions, perks and a helping hand for ASEAN citizens to do business in each other market," he added. Mikhail said domestic approach in educating public should start from the grassroots level such as universities. "Universities should embrace business studies on ASEAN economic integration as major subject for students or even organise student exchange programme among ASEAN countries," he said. As for media organisations, he proposed that about 10 per cent of news produced should be allocated exclusively for ASEAN as it could help public and businesses updated with the latest development in the region. (photoBERNAMA) --BERNAMA