ASEAN Must Move Away From Consensus-Based Decisions - Analyst

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- ASEAN should move from consensus to majority-based in its decision-making process, an analyst said Monday. Senior analyst at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), Shahriman Lockman said ASEAN leaders should revisit the consensus-style decision-making and consider making decisions based on majority to ensure the decisions made would be more effective and focused. “The current practice is that in order to come to a decision, all the 10 member nations must agree to the decisions when in some cases, not all 10 countries will be affected by the decisions or involved in the issues discussed. “So, by making decisions based on majority, the decisions can be made more timely and focused on the affected member countries,” he said at a forum held in conjunction with the ASEAN 50th anniversary celebration, here, Monday. Earlier, the event showcased cultural performances from the 10 ASEAN countries including traditional dances, songs and gamelan, and demonstration of batik ‘canting’. Other attractions at the event included the Pos Malaysia booth where it sold special edition stamps and first-day covers to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN. Organised by Wisma Putra (Malaysian Foreign Ministry), the one-day celebration was officiated by Prime Minister Najib Razak. ASEAN which groups 10 Southeast Asian nations – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – was established on Aug 8, in 1967. -- BERNAMA