Tun Mahathir on ASEAN Logic Conference 2010

I was attending the Asean Logic Conference last Tuesday, 2 February 2010, organized by few IIUM organizations. The conference was conducted for the purpose to discuss some issues face by the ASEAN countries.

There were five speakers that deliver the speech: Dato Khaleed Nordin, Bro Feriz Omar, Prof Emeritus Dr. Khoo Khai Kim, Dr. Chandra Muzaffar and Tun Mahathir Mohamad.

I was thinking not to attend the conference because I forgot to take the ticket. However, at last I managed to came but only at the end of the conference. Luckily, the last speaker was the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Mahathir Mohamad.

Tun Mahathir is always an impressive speaker. I still remember when I was child, whenever he appeared on television, I will try not to miss his speech. The way he speaks always motivated and inspired me to succeed, to see the life far beyond Malaysia, and instead look life as a whole. Even during the UMNO general election, he did not talk much about the party but mostly about Muslim and Islam. He talked about how Muslim needs to acquire knowledge not only for them but also or benefit of Muslim ummah. The Palestinian problem can be solved if the Muslim strong in these two field: Economics and military which now conquered by Jews. To achieve the goal, Muslim need to eagerly seeking knowledge, united and plan for the future.

So, listen to his speech again is a kind of blessing to me. This is second time he come to IIUM since I was studying here.

Tun Dr. Mahathir on the conference talked about the present and future challenge of ASEAN. Here some of the his key points that I take note:

1.has been established to solve the problems amongst the ASEAN’s countries on the table (meeting). For example, confrontation between Malaysia and Indonesia.

2.ASEAN cannot be compared with European Union (EU). EU consists of countries that have almost the similar cultures, similar root and same ancient civilization. They are not much different between one another. This is different from ASEAN, consist of countries that have different cultures, religion etc.

3.EU was born mainly with the focus on economics. This fact can be understand since there is not much different in economic between the European countries. ASEAN was born firstly to solve the conflict between the neighbor’s countries and secondly focus on the economic development.

4.ASEAN existence is very strong in the ministry level. But in the term of the solidarity amongst the ASEAN people are still week. We are more likely to spend the holidays in European countries rather than go to the ASEAN countries to know others better. Nothing helps to good relationship other than getting knows each other.

5.If we know other very well, we will be able to respect them. The same thing goes to them. So, if we have the conflict, it can be resolve easily.

6.In international conference, ASEAN should identify and come with the common problem and stand on that problem. But, we still not come to that stage. If we go into international conference as a group, we will stronger, show that we ASEAN move to the future as a one.

7.Globalization has been proposed by the rich countries for the purpose to monopolize the world and their benefit. They define it as the free movement of capital and technology. But they do not define it as the free movement of people across the border. If they define in this way and open the border, it will not benefit them. Think about if the many people from India and China are allowed to migrate to rich countries, they will be able to conquer the countries they are stay. Chinese and Indian are very hard working in their own countries, but less job opportunity caused many of them to live under poverty. We can’t export money but we can export people.

8.Most of the ASEAN countries become a place for rich countries to make investment. They come and invest with low wages.

9.We ASEAN should come with new ideas as a group in international conference and insist that our idea should be accepted as a group stand.

10.The combination of ASEAN+ 3(China, Japan and South Korea) can be powerful because we have big people, technology, resources that can lead toward development of ASEAN.

11. If the EU used the common currency for trading etc, we can use common trading currency for only the purpose of trade. The best currency could be gold because of its intrinsic value.

12.Regarding the Myanmar Issue, we do not interface internal affairs but it must be limited. This can be thought like the issue of Cambodia. Even we can’t interface internal affair, but we cannot allow such genocide to occur. 2 million people have been killed during the reign of Pol Pot.

13.The current regime of Myanmar might afraid if they make democracy, the new government might treat and punish them for what they have done during the reign. So, they need assurance that they will safe after the new government form. Else, they will not make democracy and will continue with current government.

P/s: Picture credit to Hasnoor Hussein.