(Apr 21): Asean governments have been urged to heed the voices of civil society in addressing issues of peace and human security that have come under threat in the region.

The Asean People's Forum (APF) 2015 is hoping that that the governments of the 10 Southeast Asian member countries will take their recommendations seriously, which to date have largely been ignored, social activists at the forum today said.

"We have not really seen Malaysia acting on the previous recommendations that we have put through," said Yap Swee Seng, an APF steering committee, in a press conference today.

Jerald Joseph, steering committee chair, added: "Previously, we only handed out recommendations to the governments just a day or two before the conferences. This time, we have given it to them some two to three months back."

The forum is seeking resolutions by governments to issues which Asean has failed to address, including violence and armed conflicts, lack of fundamental freedoms and human right violations, undemocratic processes, corruption, poor governance, inequality, religious extremism and intolerance.

This year's APF is being hosted by Malaysia in the capital Kuala Lumpur from today till Friday.

It is held parallel to the Asean Summit of Heads of State, which will take place from Saturday onwards.

Jerald said he hoped that Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan, who is scheduled to speak at the APF on Thursday, would be able to shed some light on which of the recommendations Putrajaya would consider.

"We have previously asked that the representative from Malaysia to the regional human rights commission be an independent individual but at the end, someone from the government was put in," he said.

Jerald, who is also the director of human rights group Pusat Komas, was referring to the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR).

Some 1,400 delegates from 27 countries, representing around 1,000 non-governmental organisations, will be attending the four-day forum.

Jerald said the APF would be discussing issues plaguing the region including human rights, development, trade, environment, youth and culture.

"A feature of the APF is an open dialogue with Asean leaders and civil society leaders.

"The joint statements and recommendations as an output from the forum will be submitted to the Asean secretariat and government representatives," he added.

Speakers include Tun Abdullah Badawi, who was the prime minister when the first APF was held 10 years ago, activist Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and Human Rights Commission of Malaysia chief Tan Sri Hasmy Agam. – The Malaysian Insider