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Malaysia agrees to expedite Timor-Leste's ASEAN membership process

Malaysia, serving as the ASEAN chair this year, has agreed to expedite Timor-Leste's membership process following a decision made at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat held in Langkawi in January.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. (Photo: thestar.com.my)
Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. (Photo: thestar.com.my)

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Timor-Leste is on track to become a full member of ASEAN by the regional grouping's second summit in October or November this year, according to Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

Malaysia, serving as the ASEAN chair this year, has agreed to expedite Timor-Leste's membership process following a decision made at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat held in Langkawi in January.

To gain full ASEAN membership, Timor-Leste must comply with around 88 instruments, with 69 of these related to the economic pillar.

Malaysia established a special unit at the ASEAN secretariat in Jakarta to assist Timor-Leste in expediting this process.

Malaysia is negotiating to remove these unnecessary instruments so that Timor-Leste will not have to go through redundant requirements.

Timor-Leste will be given a period of between three and five years to gradually sign and comply with the remaining instruments when it becomes a full ASEAN member.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had previously reaffirmed Malaysia's unwavering support for Timor-Leste's inclusion in ASEAN, aligning it with the vision of fostering greater unity and sustainability across the region./.

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