ASEAN must move away from consensus based decision – analyst

KUALA LUMPUR: ASEAN should move from consensus to majority-based in its decisionmaking process, an analyst said yesterday.

Senior analyst at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), Shahriman Lockman said ASEAN leaders should revisit the consensus-style decision-making and consider making decisions based on majority to ensure the decisions made would be more effective and focused.

“The current practice is that in order to come to a decision, all the 10 member nations must agree to the decisions when in some cases, not all 10 countries will be affected by the decisions or involved in the issues discussed.

“So, by making decisions based on majority, the decisions can be made more timely and focused on the affected member countries,” he said at a forum held in conjunction with the ASEAN 50th anniversary celebration, here, yesterday.

Earlier, the event showcased cultural performances from the 10 ASEAN countries including traditional dances, songs and gamelan, and demonstration of batik ‘canting’.

Other attractions at the event included the Pos Malaysia booth where it sold special edition stamps and first-day covers to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN.

Organised by Wisma Putra, the oneday celebration was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. - Bernama