During an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Jan 22, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Asean's main focus and interest are its economic fundamentals and boosting collaboration within the grouping.
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NewsTranscript
00:00AI is, of course, a new challenge.
00:03We don't have the expertise, know-how.
00:07So we are fortunate because of the stability,
00:12political stability, and a clear policy prescriptions
00:18in economic madani.
00:20We then encourage and provide enough incentives
00:24for all the big players out there,
00:25mainly cumulatively United States and Europe,
00:29including Infineon, which is a very huge investment
00:34in that area.
00:35Then China coming in.
00:37We have to navigate.
00:38And the national AI office, legislation, data protection,
00:46and whatever it takes to make sure
00:48that we are fully equipped.
00:51But AI means changing the education system, health
00:54services, blockchain.
00:57So it will have to come about.
00:59And we are pushing it at a pace, at a faster pace.
01:03Do you want to become a group similar to the European Union
01:09with a common currency, with an internal market?
01:15Could you enlighten us how you would see ASEAN
01:21in 20 years from now?
01:24The ASEAN leaders are here, so I've got to be careful.
01:28But what consensus have we reached?
01:32We have been successful in the past
01:35on geopolitical diplomatic.
01:38But we realize, in my exchanges with all prime ministers
01:41and presidents of ASEAN, look, we have to enhance,
01:45or as the Americans say, enhance,
01:50the pronunciation is an issue, intra-ASEAN trade.
01:55And work together to complement one another.
01:59So there is comparative advantage.
02:01So the economic fundamentals in terms of trade, investment,
02:06to me is important.
02:07And the way we negotiate with other countries' origins.
02:12But whether we want to then emerge to become like EU
02:16is something that we have not explored.
02:19Our advantage is to study EU, the successes
02:24and the limitations.
02:25And we are not too concerned about the political setup.
02:29We are more concerned about the economic collaboration.
02:31From my understanding, talking to, you know,
02:34Mambo Makos, to Prabowo, to Phuket, or to Thailand,
02:38and my other neighbors, Lawrence,
02:42Tuan Sultan Brunei, who is most senior,
02:45the more our main interest is to focus
02:48on the economic fundamentals.
02:50Whatever it takes, digitalization, AI,
02:54and energy transition, investment, trade,
02:58I mean, that has been the focus.