Mega urges ASEAN to address poverty
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri called on Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) member countries to improve the welfare of people in the region.
Citing the lingering problems of poverty and the widening gap in welfare among member countries, Megawati suggested the organization initiate more efforts to address the issue.
Addressing the 36th anniversary of the association as the president of ASEAN, which Indonesia assumed last June, Megawati said poverty remained the major problem in the region.
"Today, the problem of poverty remains as real as ever and its ultimate conquest remains a dream in Southeast Asia," the President said.
She said that addressing poverty would address the challenges of security, especially terrorism and separatism in the region.
The President said that after the financial crisis in 1997, the region, once dubbed the "Asian economic miracle", struggled to eradicate poverty.
To add to various efforts that had been made, Megawati underlined the need to build cooperation in maritime affairs as the sea has played an important role in trade, transportation and communication activities of the ASEAN member countries.
"Effective maritime cooperation can indeed help ASEAN overcome the problem of poverty in the region."
ASEAN consists of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darrusalam, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.
Among the 10-member countries, only Brunei Darussalam, Singapore and Malaysia have managed to maintain their economic growth and reduce the number of people living in poverty.
Megawati said ASEAN was currently seen as a two-level organization with the six founding members at the upper level, and the four latest members at the lower one.
"We are realistic enough to acknowledge the need for greater cohesiveness within the association for bridging the gaps in social and economic development among the members of ASEAN."
She said there should a forthright attempt to get the last four members -- Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam -- to catch up with the rest of the ASEAN family.
Acknowledging the existing initiative of ASEAN integration to narrow the gaps, the President said that there should be stronger cooperation to implement the idea.
"ASEAN may need to take a close look at its bodies, procedures and approaches with a view to accelerating and enhancing its responses to situations and developments as they rapidly unfold."