The ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Malaysia says its imperative for members of the regional grouping to show progress in making the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) a reality.
Chairman Tan Sri Dr Mohd Munir Abdul Majid said the leaders must show the people of ASEAN why the AEC is important.
"Affirmative action is needed. We don't want the AEC to be a 'damp squib' (in failing to live up to expectations) when they announce it at year-end," he told Bernama.
ABAC, had in March at the 21st ASEAN Economic Ministers' Retreat in Kota Bharu, outlined seven proposals covering eight sectors.
It included expanding retail e-commerce transactions and boosting entrepreneurship among youths and women in the region.
The proposals, termed, "Take Action Now" and for implementation ideally before the AEC takes shape by year-end, are not purely economic. They have high symbolic value with a substantial impact on the degree of the region's integration into a single economy.
"The proposals can achieve something, if they push hard, and like an ASEAN lane at airports, an ASEAN business travel card and ASEAN food. So, let it be an ASEAN thing," said Munir.
Established in 2003 by ASEAN leaders to represent the private sector, ABAC comprises 30 council members, including three from each of the 10 member countries, and with at least one from the Small Medium Enterprise (SME) sector.
Meanwhile, Munir highlighted that the upcoming 26th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi from April 24-28, looms as the most important ever for the region.
He expressed confidence that Malaysia will try to push hard in securing favourable deals with member countries, but conceded that the outcome was also dependent on the response of the others to make fast decisions.
"We have to move away from subscribing to the 'ASEAN way", which normally involves talking and discussing with each other in a very polite way. As ASEAN Chair, Malaysia needs to push harder in showing the way forward," he said.
Meanwhile, if ASEAN is indeed taking the 2015 deadline seriously in realising the AEC dream, the next eight months will be very crucial towards putting in place the right plans, infrastructure and environment, to enhance the competitiveness of the region, as well as the individual countries.
This also means looking at ASEAN as a single entity, rather than just a 10- nation grouping.
Amid its dynamic economic growth and an increasing middle-income population, the ASEAN region has been on a transformation path to becoming an important consumer market.
Things can only get better. That is, if ASEAN members are ready to get their act together, and make the AEC a meaningful manifestation.
Bernama
Tue Apr 21 2015
![ABAC Malaysia calls for bold decisions by ASEAN towards AEC ABAC Malaysia calls for bold decisions by ASEAN towards AEC](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-04/41396531029_295x200.jpg)
MUNIR: "We have to move away from subscribing to the 'ASEAN way", which normally involves talking and discussing with each other in a very polite way. - File Photo
![Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51714453013_courtgavelmahkam.jpg)
Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan
Dalam penghakimannya, Che Mohd Ruzima berkata perayu gagal membuktikan bahawa Mahkamah Sesyen terkhilaf dalam memutuskan kes itu.
Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan mudahkan urusan Imigresen
Malaysia dan Brunei akan mengadakan rundingan bagi memudahkan proses keluar masuk rakyat kedua-dua negara.
![Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124936_KimPanGon.jpg)
Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia
Bekas ketua jurulatih Harimau Malaya Kim Pan-gon mahu mengekalkan hubungan baik dengan skuad itu biarpun tidak lagi bersama.
Kos pampasan tanah fasa 1B proses Projek LPB Sabah RM1.2 bilion - Alexander
Anggaran kos pengambilan balik tanah bagi keseluruhan Fasa 1B proses pengambilan tanah dan penilaian pampasan tanah bagi Projek Lebuh Raya Pan Borneo Sabah (LPB Sabah) berjumlah RM1.2 bilion.
Sentiasa berhati-hati, ribut petir diramal berlaku di Sabah
Orang ramai khususnya yang tinggal di kawasan berisiko di Sabah disaran agar bersiap siaga terutama dari segi perubahan cuaca yang tidak menentu yang seterusnya akan mengakibatkan bencana banjir dan pokok tumbang.
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita berpasukan dalam Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) edisi ke-21 di Sarawak akan ditentukan dalam Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa SUKMA Peringkat Kebangsaan pada Khamis ini.
JPBM Sabah serah jentera khas buat pasukan sukarela
Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) negeri Sabah sedang dalam perancangan untuk menyerahkan jentera khas, iaitu Volunter Fire Rescue Tender (VFRT) untuk Pasukan Bomba Sukarela (PBS) di Sabah.
Sarawak akan pertahan pingat sukan Muay Thai edisi lalu
Skuad Sarawak akan berusaha mempertahankan masing-masing dua emas, perak dan gangsa dalam kejohanan SUKMA yang dimenangi dalam edisi lalu.
![Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124841_TBFAM.jpg)
Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi
FAM pernah berusaha memujuk Kim Pan-gon untuk terus mengemudi skuad Harimau Malaya hingga kontraknya tamat secara rasmi pada akhir tahun depan.
![Kaspersky tinggalkan pasaran AS bermula 20 Julai ini Kaspersky tinggalkan pasaran AS bermula 20 Julai ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/51708604164_kasperskyancamans.jpg)
Kaspersky tinggalkan pasaran AS bermula 20 Julai ini
Kaspersky mengesahkan kurang 50 pekerja akan terkesan, dan mereka akan diberikan pampasan susulan penutupan syarikat tersebut.
![APEC 2024: Mesyuarat pertama ABAC tumpu keresahan akibat pemecahan ekonomi global APEC 2024: Mesyuarat pertama ABAC tumpu keresahan akibat pemecahan ekonomi global](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/41708080918_JuliaTorreblanca.jpg)
APEC 2024: Mesyuarat pertama ABAC tumpu keresahan akibat pemecahan ekonomi global
Mesyuarat pertama ABAC 2024 beri tumpuan kepada keresahan yang mendalam berkenaan tekanan daripada pemecahan ekonomi global.
![APEC tidak boleh goyah dalam menyokong kerjasama ekonomi - Tengku Zafrul APEC tidak boleh goyah dalam menyokong kerjasama ekonomi - Tengku Zafrul](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/41706532911_Zafrul.jpg)
APEC tidak boleh goyah dalam menyokong kerjasama ekonomi - Tengku Zafrul
Katanya, platform tersebut mesti meningkatkan manfaat perjanjian perdagangan pelbagai hala.
![APEC 2024: Mesyuarat pertama ABAC tumpu reda tekanan ekonomi serantau APEC 2024: Mesyuarat pertama ABAC tumpu reda tekanan ekonomi serantau](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/61707976418_TBLiewChinTong.jpg)
APEC 2024: Mesyuarat pertama ABAC tumpu reda tekanan ekonomi serantau
Mesyuarat tiga hari bermula semalam menjadi platform dialog kepada usaha untuk meredakan tekanan ekonomi yang melanda rantau ini.
![Pegawai kanan APEC cari platform perkongsian maklumat COVID-19 Pegawai kanan APEC cari platform perkongsian maklumat COVID-19](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-05/71590636400_APECSecretariat.jpg)
Pegawai kanan APEC cari platform perkongsian maklumat COVID-19
Pandemik ini telah menjejaskan kira-kira 5 juta orang dan menyebabkan ribuan terkorban sehingga dunia terpaksa membuat sekatan dan penjarakan sosial.
![Ekonomi ASEAN tumbuh 5.6 peratus setahun sehingga 2019 - Najib Ekonomi ASEAN tumbuh 5.6 peratus setahun sehingga 2019 - Najib](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-11/41447994149_NajibAseanLaunching.jpg)
Ekonomi ASEAN tumbuh 5.6 peratus setahun sehingga 2019 - Najib
ASEAN dijangka mencatat keluaran dalam negara kasar tahunan pada purata 5.6 peratus hingga 2019, susulan pelaksanaan Komuniti Ekonomi ASEAN (AEC), kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.