KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, Oct 28, 2025 – Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed Malaysia’s firm support for Timor-Leste’s full accession to ASEAN, emphasizing that the country’s membership will not only complete the number of members but, more importantly, enrich the soul, conscience, and values of this blessed region.
The statement was delivered by Anwar during a dinner hosted by the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, José Manuel Ramos-Horta, following the closing of the Summit last night. He expressed deep appreciation for the strong spirit of friendship between the two nations, while recalling Timor-Leste’s long history of struggle filled with suffering, injustice, and imperialist oppression against its people.
“Malaysia was among the first to recognize the blood and sweat sacrifices of its people who yearned for freedom and pure ideals of conscience, as early as the era of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad,” said Anwar, adding that he had once stated in the Dewan Rakyat that Timor-Leste is part of the regional family we love.
According to Anwar, Malaysia’s stance is very clear: to support and accelerate the process of Timor-Leste’s full accession to ASEAN. He reminded that Malaysia itself was not a wealthy country when it joined the regional bloc, just like Laos and Cambodia in the past.
“We too once struggled fiercely to build the foundation and economic resilience of the nation. Therefore, it is inappropriate to measure the value of membership solely based on economic strength. What is important is the determination and commitment, vision, and national spirit of that nation,” Anwar stressed.
As a concrete step, he directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra) to facilitate technical cooperation and the placement of officers at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, to help complete Timor-Leste’s institutional requirements for this purpose.
Anwar also touched on global issues, stating that in today’s world, the voice of conscience is increasingly fading. However, Timor-Leste inspires that voice – a voice born from a history of wounds, the resilience and sincerity of its people in fighting for freedom and justice.
“I once discussed this with the late Kofi Annan, and I see the same spirit in President Ramos-Horta,” he said, expressing high confidence that Timor-Leste’s presence will bring profound enrichment to ASEAN.
