By Yasmin Ramlan
KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 — Asean must shift from a state-centric, top-down entity to a dynamic, people-driven force that delivers tangible benefits to its citizens, say regional leaders and experts.
As global power shifts and geopolitical tensions grow, they said, Asean’s continued focus on traditional diplomacy and elite-led engagement could make it less relevant globally.
“We stand at the crossroads of history. Asean must reinvent how it relates to its citizens and the world,” said Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin, senior political secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said this during the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia forum on Asean Community Building at JW Marriott Hotel here today.
Among other panellists at the forum were Philippine diplomat Jesus Domingo, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute senior fellow Jayant Menon, Timor-Leste senior diplomatic adviser to the president Nelson Santos.
Shamsul proposed that the Asean Community Vision 2045 be infused with the values of Malaysia Madani — compassion, sustainability, respect, innovation, prosperity and trust — and framed it as a moral compass for a new era.
“Asean must no longer strive for sameness, but for solidarity in diversity. We must see ourselves not as an organisation of states, but as a community of people, cultures, languages and dreams,” he said.
This call for transformation was echoed by Domingo, who urged Asean to look beyond ”Asean centrality” and towards ”Asean universality”. He envisioned the bloc projecting itself as a global force, not just within Southeast Asia.
He also highlighted Asean’s quiet but successful work in disaster response through initiatives such as the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management and its growing capability for collective crisis management.
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A signboard for Asean 2025 decorates the environs of Kuala Lumpur, as Malaysia takes over as Asean chair this year, on January 1, 2025. — Picture by BERNAMA[/caption]
Domingo stressed the need to build Asean “from the bottom up” by involving youth, small entrepreneurs, and grassroots movements.
“We’ve been pretty much stuck on Track 1 and 2 diplomacy, but we must also consider Track 3: individual (advocacy). Even one advocate in a village could create a ripple effect,” he said.
“Tracks of diplomacy" refers to different levels or avenues of diplomacy, going beyond just official government-to-government interactions.
Menon similarly said that for Asean to lead meaningfully, it must prioritise inclusion, resilience, and sustainability.
“This is the time to decrease dependence on single-country trade partners,” he said, referring to inconsistent trade behavior from major economies.
“Diversifying trade relationships reduces risks of country-specific shocks,” he said.
The former lead economist at the Asian Development Bank also highlighted Asean’s limited progress in labour mobility, noting that most intra-Asean labor movement is unskilled and unrecorded, and urged reforms beyond the current mutual recognition arrangements for skilled workers
Menon also warned that Asean must not lose momentum on climate action, especially now that global promises are becoming uncertain, adding that the right policies can align climate goals with economic expansion.
Meanwhile, Santos referred to Asean as the most successful moral organisation in the world, crediting it for creating peace and lifting millions out of poverty. He said Timor-Leste sees Asean as more than a group of nations, it is an identity.
“What’s important now is for Asean to stay united and protect the well-being of every citizen,” he said.
