KUALA LUMPUR: The Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Caucus can serve as a lobby to Asean governments to address regional issues.
The 10th AIPA Caucus Meeting chairman Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said all parties needed to unite in stating ideas and solutions while facilitating Asean’s aspirations for a region that enjoys a harmonious political environment and strong economic cooperation when undertaking social responsibilities.
Speaking to Bernama today after closing the two-day meeting in Kuala Lumpur, he said the outcomes of the meeting would be conveyed to Asean governments so that they are made aware of the ideas and concerns raised by parliamentarians.
“This (the meeting) is the opportunity for parliamentarians to be more proactive in bringing forward initiatives that can benefit Asean citizens in more inclusive and participatory avenues,” he said.
The two-day event was attended by 50 delegates from eight Asean countries excluding Thailand and Indonesia.
The annual meeting focused on three issues comprising the rise of terrorism, extremism and radicalisation, strengthening cooperation in tackling climate change and addressing sexual exploitation of children.
According to Wan Junaidi, the most important role to be played by parliamentarians in the region was to put in place appropriate laws to address such regional problems.
The AIPA Caucus serves as a mechanism for discussions, as well as the development and harmonisation of laws among Asean nations, with the recent meeting also providing a platform for parliamentarians to ascertain how far the resolutions passed at the last AIPA Annual General Meeting (AGM) had been implemented by Asean members.
The 40th AIPA AGM is scheduled to be held in Bangkok over a five-day period beginning on Aug 25 this year. – Bernama
