This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on July 12, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: An Asean Youth Council should be set up to create a platform for young people to deliberate on the kind of Asean they want for the future, the grouping’s business advisory council says.

While Asean’s young population, 60% of which is below 35 years, is often seen as a positive for the region, their involvement in the Southeast Asian grouping’s decisions and its future has been limited, Asean Business Advisory Council (Asean-BAC) chairman Tan Sri Dr Mohd Munir Abdul Majid said.

Though an Asean Young Entrepreneurs Council has been formed, “there needs to be a more broad-based involvement of Asean youth than just in business entrepreneurship, especially when it comes to the future shape, characteristics and policies of the regional organisation,” Munir said at a media briefing yesterday.

A second proposal is for an Asean social and education policy to be drafted to address the digitisation of the economy’s opportunities and challenges.

Noting that not all Asean member states are prepared for the sweeping change that will affect all economies, Munir said the displacement of employment from the impact of robotisation, the Internet of things and use of big data, among others, could become severe.

“Individual Asean states’ preparation for this future is not enough as stresses and strains in the restructuring of economies will adversely affect Asean integration and cohesion.” 

These are among the issues to be discussed at the Asean@50 Conference and commemorative dinner organised by Asean-BAC on Aug 4 to mark the 50th anniversary of Asean’s formation.

The event, to be graced by the prime minister, will include the presentation of awards to 10 outstanding Malaysian-based companies and persons reflecting the success and opportunities which Asean has to offer, Munir said in a statement.