Nazir proposes rebrand of SEA Games to boost Asean identity

^{Asean-BAC chairman Nazir Razak said the Asean identity has yet to resonate with its people. (AP pic)}

Asean-BAC chairman Nazir Razak says efforts are ongoing to convince Olympic councils across Asean countries of the idea.

KUALA LUMPUR:

 The Asean Business Advisory Council (Asean-BAC) has proposed rebranding the SEA Games as the “Asean Games” to strengthen and promote a stronger regional identity.

Asean-BAC chairman Nazir Razak said this was one of the 12 flagship initiatives the council had proposed and presented at the 31st Asean Economic Ministers Retreat as well as the 12th Asean Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting.

“The Asean identity still does not resonate with its people. At the moment, we are lobbying all Olympic councils across Asean countries to get them to agree to this idea of rebranding from SEA Games to Asean Games,” he said at a media briefing event on Asean-BAC’s economic initiatives here today.

Nazir said the council was also collaborating with AirAsia to develop a mobile application for Asean travel, targeted for launch in November this year.

“We want people to use this app when travelling across Asean countries – not just with AirAsia, but with any airline. It will have access to various travel deals and also facilitate the application of travel visas,” he said.

Nazir said that of the 12 flagship initiatives underway, six were long-term legacy projects expected to span several years.

These include the establishment of the Asean Business Entity, the Asean Private Capital Markets Initiative, a common Asean IPO Prospectus, the Asean Common Carbon Framework, a digital exchange platform based in Malaysia, and efforts to enhance talent mobility by developing flexible visa frameworks that allow students to work in any Asean country.

“Asean-BAC will also be having a formal dialogue on these initiatives with Asean leaders at the 46th Asean Summit later this month. Hopefully, these leaders have been properly briefed on them.

“It is very important for us to execute these initiatives and follow through. If we wait around for others to do the same, nothing will be done. We believe we can advance Asean by leading the work. If others see that what we are doing is working, they will follow suit,” he said.

Praise for govt’s response to US tariffs

Nazir also praised the government for its response to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the US tariff announcements.

He said Malaysia had stayed relatively calm compared to “many other countries that have reacted either too quickly or aggressively”.

“Our government has been very astute in its handling of the US tariff situation. Malaysia has engaged with international stakeholders and leaders in order to figure out what is rhetoric and what is reality.

“Malaysia then went back to strategise and negotiate with the US. That is absolutely the right way to handle the situation,” Nazir said.

Malaysia will start negotiations with the US today, aimed at scrapping the 24% tariff imposed on the country.

Investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said yesterday that the government was approaching the negotiations from “a position of strength” as the economy grew 5.1% last year and remained stable.

The US announced the 24% “reciprocal tariff” on most Malaysian goods as well as a range of tariffs on about 60 countries. The tariffs have been paused for 90 days to allow for trade negotiations. However, a 10% blanket duty on almost all imports to the US remains in place.

Source: freemalaysiatoday.com