Brunei lauded for early completion of ASCC blueprint

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam consented to fund the mid-term review for the Asean Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint implementation in March this year, Borneo Bulletin said.

The report, completed ahead of schedule for the upcoming 23rd Asean Summit, is critical in assessing the Asean Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint implementation towards realising a caring and responsible Asean Community by 2015. It revealed that Asean member states have implemented 86.4 per cent of the 339 action line and is on track. The review also identified various challenges ahead.

The early success completion ofthe review has earned praises from senior officials of the Asean Secretariat. During the press conference after the 10th Meeting of the Asean Social-Cultural Community Council (ASCC), Alicia Dela Rosa Bala, the Deputy Secretary General of the Asean Secretariat said, “The role of Brunei Darussalam in the chairmanship has greatly contributed to the achievement in completing the review.

“Without the consent of His Majesty in providing financial support to conduct the regional assessment, it will not be realised.

“I truly acknowledged Brunei Darussalam’s support and the results from the review is highly critical in realising the goal of an Asean Community by 2015, which is categorised as a people-centred and socially responsible society.”

Explaining its importance, Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Seta Awang Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports said, “The review is used as a yardstick in terms of measuring the progress and achievement in the implementation of the Asean Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint. From the review, significant progress has been made. However, there are challenges faced by Asean countries in the implementation especially 2015 and beyond.

“Commitment, resources and expertise as well as deep involvement of member countries in the implementation of the blueprint are among challenges unveiled in the Mid-Term Review.

“With this in hand, it has asisted member countries in identifying the challenges and areas of priority for implementation of the Asean Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint.”

Alicia Dela Rosa Bala reiterated, “The challenges reflect the needs for close coordination among different sectorial and cross pillar in the matter of implementation of the blueprint.”

In quantitative assessment, Alicia Dela Rosa Bala revealed, “We are on track towards the implementation of the blueprint as the figure is impressive.

“I think member states must continue to work together towards achieving an Asean Community by 2015 through the participation and implementation of all the ‘Priority Action Line’ between now and 2015. The blueprint is very significant, the Asean SocioCultural Community’s main goal is to ensure its people are socially responsible and caring community. It is the component of Asean that really focuses on its people.”

Also present at the press conference were Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid bin Hj Mohd Jaafar, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and Awang Haji Mohd Rozan bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yunos, Permanent Secretary at the ministry.