President of the Thai National Assembly Chuan Leekpai. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)Bangkok (VNA) – ASEAN must not loosen up its solidarity in facing any kindof threat, President of the Thai National Assembly Chuan Leekpai remarked at thefirst plenary session of the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-41) onSeptember 8.
The top Thai legislator said ASEAN is facing anunprecedented health crisis – the COVID-19 pandemic – which has created severalnew and most difficult challenges many countries in the region areexperiencing. Apart from the enormous pressure on the medical infrastructure andpublic health, it is disrupting lives, societies, and economies, he noted.
He voiced his concern that the regional countries aremainly focusing on immediate internal needs – inevitably with externalrelations being less urgent.
“The declinein regional coordination at this time, when ASEAN is being confronted withdifficulties resulting from geopolitical and strategic uncertainty, couldpossibly adversely affect its centrality, which has been a crucial basis forits role in regional as well as world affairs.”
Leekpaiproposed three points that the AIPA member parliaments can work closelytogether during this difficult time to achieve common objects.
First, hesuggested the parliaments reaffirm their direct connection with the people.Embodying ASEAN’s vision for a people-centered community, members of parliamentmust always stay close to and represent the interests of people, particularlythe most vulnerable.
Withoutseeking to understand the real problems of the people, each parliament will notbe able to effectively fulfill their mandate to oversee and provide insightsfor the executive branch.
Second, at theregional level, it is preferable for AIPA to exchange knowledge and experiencesamong members of parliament, he continued, including knowledge on a new andunexpected way of life under the current and post-pandemic situation, can beshared.
Members of parliamentsin different countries can directly communicate with one another and helpparliaments to function more smoothly and effectively.
Finally, the top Thai lawmaker urged ASEAN communitybuilding to be strengthened through the harmonisation of laws of the member states. For ASEAN totruly attain a regional community, it is asked to create common legal standards across the region,he said.
He furthernoted that each parliament can still maintain its responsibility for theenactment of laws to regulate affairs within its own jurisdiction. Harmonisation is nevertheless essential to ensurethat the same or similar rules and regulations are moving in the samedirection, most notably trade, investment, and movement of professionals,making our region, not only friendly, but also legally friendly.
“If theparliament is strong, the executive will be strong,” he said. “Ifinter-parliamentary coordination is strengthened, this would surely amount toan invigorated ASEAN.”
“We mustrevitalise ASEAN to maintain and sustain unity and centrality, which is trulyour aim and aspiration, and to uphold our source of pride through which we haveexisted together for more than half a century.”/.
VNA
