Prosper Thy Neighbours: New Article in the Diplomatic Voice

Hello

My latest article on the ASEAN Economic Community has been published by the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations Malaysia in the Diplomatic Voice.

Here is the link:

http://www.idfr.gov.my/images/flip-book/2014/DiplomaticVoice20141/#p=4

Happy reading.

Sufian

Centre for International Law and ADCEP

It has been a very hectic week in the schedule. The Law Faculty at the National University of Malaysia where I am attached to, has decided to move forward with the formation of the Centre for International Law and Siyar (CILAS). CILAS will focus on pertinent issues in International Law and Islamic International Law. For a start CILAS will focus on 4 main topics: Competition issues led by Associate Professor Dr. Safinaz Hussin; ASEAN issues led by Dr. Salawati Mat Basir; International Trade and Development by Dr. Anowar Zahid and Maritime and Space by Dr. Mahmud Zuhdi. Mr. Aminurasyeed who has many years of experience in Islamic Finance will now look into the aspects of Islamic International Law. We look forward to CILAS making NUM a leading centre for International Law in ASEAN.

At the same time a group of like minded friends will be launching the Asia Pacific Centre for Economic Diplomacy (APCED) at the end of the week. The team comprises of highly experienced trade and economic diplomats led by Ambassador Dato' Muhamad Noor Yacob, Malaysian former Ambassador to the WTO and a former Executive Director of APEC. Another prominent member is Dato' Kamaruddin Hassan, formerly Deputy CEO of the Malaysian External Trade Board (MATRADE). APCED will act as a private think tank, which will focus on international trade and development and international investments.

Dr. Sufian Jusoh will be leading both the CILAS and APCED.

All the best for today.

The ASEAN Economic Community 2015

The ASEAN Economic Community 2105 would be a reality very soon. However, ASEAN and the Member States need to get the stakeholders, mainly the whole population and citizens of ASEAN to understand what this means to all of us, ASEANITES (new term, which has just been coined one second ago, referring to ASEAN Nationals). Discussions in academic papers and government departments do not mean anything if the academic terms and political jargons are not translated into the layman language: in other words, what is AEC for me? What will I gain from the AEC? Is there any real economic benefits for everyone?

Whilst our attention is now focused on issues at hand such as the MH 370 and MH 17, Gaza and the Palestine, Sulu and the Maritime Boundaries, let us not forget, AEC is a big thing. AEC, once it is fully implemented will have a big impact on how we do things and how we conduct business with our sisters and brother other ASEANITES. At the end of the day it is all about our livelihood in ASEAN and beyond.

This blog will focus on the AEC in the next few months, apart from commenting on other international issues.

Stay focus and there will be several programs to prepare our ASEANITES for the AEC.