RI undecided on ASEAN secretary-general

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has yet to decide on whether to back Filipino Rodolfo Severino or incumbent Dato Ajit Singh of Malaysia as the next secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"We will determine our position later at the appropriate time," Ali Alatas replied when asked yesterday on who he would back when Singh ends his five-year tenure in December.

"Up to now we haven't decided yet," he remarked, adding that "we'll look at the capabilities of the candidates."

Alatas said Indonesia was not nominating a candidate.

However Indonesia's final stance could be critical in deciding the outcome.

Previously viewed as an administrative and ceremonial post, the secretary-general, who runs the secretariat in Jakarta, gained new stature in 1992 when ASEAN ministers accorded it ministerial status.

It was also agreed that the secretary-general would no longer be selected on a rotational system but appointed based on merit. No one has ever held the post for two terms.

The elevation to ministerial level and merit-based selection has for the first time generated a genuine race between candidates.

ASEAN members -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- are split on who to support. The race is expected to heat up further when Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar join ASEAN next month.

The Philippines, whose turn it is to occupy the rotational seat, is lobbying hard for its candidate, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rodolfo Severino.

Thailand has also publicly expressed its support for Severino.

Malaysia has not made its stance public but recent decisions suggest it may back Ajit Singh for a second term.

Officials here point to Malaysian foreign minister Abdullah Badawi's sudden decision to invite Singh on his trip to Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to follow up preparations for membership.

During an earlier meeting ASEAN ministers agreed that Badawi was to represent ASEAN on that trip. There was no public mention made of Singh accompanying him.

Officials also say the three-prospective ASEAN members are leaning toward backing Ajit Singh, who has been pivotal in smoothing the way for their impending admission. (mds)