Musa Hitam leads M’sian delegation to 32nd Asean Summit

KUALA LUMPUR: Former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam is representing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the 32nd Asean Summit being held yesterday in Singapore, according to a Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) statement.

Musa is accompanied by his wife Toh Puan Zulaika Sheardin, Foreign Affairs Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Ramlan Ibrahim and senior officials from Wisma Putra, International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) and the Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister’s Department.

“Singapore’s theme, “Resilient and Innovative”, will provide a platform for the Asean leaders to deliberate on Asean solidarity and the organisation’s ability to navigate emerging challenges such as terrorism and violent extremism.

“It also reflects on Singapore’s emphasis and commitment to promote schemes that capitalise on innovation,” Wisma Putra said.

The two-day summit will also be a platform for the leaders to evaluate the progress of ongoing efforts to strengthen the Asean community, premised on Asean 2025: Forging Ahead Together, which sets overarching goals for the three pillars of Asean.

The leaders will exchange views on the future trajectory of Asean-led initiatives as well as contemporary issues germane to the interests of the region and the wider international community.

The summit is preceded by several meetings of different levels, namely, Meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to Asean (CPR) on April 25; Asean Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) on April 26, Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting, Asean Coordinating Council and Asean Political-Security Community Council Meetings yesterday. Bernama