ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly

During July - September 2008, the Parliament of Singapore held three Sittings and passed the following 15 Bills:

During this period, the Singapore Parliament welcomed Speakers, Members of Parliament and officials from AIPA Member, Special Observer and Observer countries for the 29th AIPA General Assembly from 19-24 August 2008 (please see separate report).

Singapore Parliament also welcomed parliamentarians and officials from Australia, Germany, Mexico and the UK Treasury Select Committee. The visiting delegates held meetings with their Singapore counterparts and officials on various regional issues and exchanges of Parliamentary information.

In addition, Parliament hosted a visit by Hon George Cash, Deputy President of the Legislative Council, Parliament of South Australia. Study visits were also conducted for delegations from Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Timor-Leste. Delegates from the UK Royal College of Defence Studies also visited the Singapore Parliament during this period.

The Singapore Parliament sent delegations and officials to participate in the following overseas conferences:

29th AIPA GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN SINGAPORE FURTHERS ONE ASEAN VISION

The Parliament of Singapore hosted the 29th AIPA General Assembly from 19-24 August 2008. About 250 parliamentarians and representatives from eight AIPA Member and two Special Observer countries attended the General Assembly. Eight Observer countries also attended the conference as dialogue partners.

In his Welcome Address to the Conference on 20 August, AIPA President and Speaker of Singapore Parliament Mr Abdullah Tarmugi reaffirmed the importance of the ASEAN Charter and the role AIPA could play in the establishment of the ASEAN Community based on principles of consensus, mutual respect, the rule of law, democracy and human rights.

Mr Abdullah pointed out the importance of dialogue with ASEAN and AIPA’s external partners as a means to foster mutual understanding. He emphasised the role that parliamentarians could play in building a people-centred ASEAN and urged them to help shape the ASEAN course during this exciting period of change by nurturing the ASEAN identity among their constituents, particularly the youths, so that the next generation will be an ‘ASEAN generation’.

During his Opening Address, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong outlines the many initiatives undertaken by ASEAN in its efforts towards greater regional integration, including the ASEAN Charter and the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint. Noting the competition posed by China and India, Mr Lee stressed the need for ASEAN to become a strong and integrated region, to make it more attractive as a economic partner for MNCs and other countries and regional organisations. In this respect, Prime Minister Lee also drew on the experience of the EU to stress the importance of string domestic support to sustain ASEAN integration efforts.

Prime Minister Lee also lauded the visions and ideals of AIPA founders, emphasizing that their objective of creating an integrated and successful community remained relevant today. He noted that the founders of AIPA had taken a larger view of the region’s interests beyond national and domestic considerations. He stressed that while parliamentarians may belong to different political parties, ASEAN cooperation is a non-partisan issue which all can support. In this regard, Prime Minister Lee emphasised the key role of national parliaments in moving ASEAN closer to our common goals by supporting the ratification and implementation of ASEAN agreements, including the Charter, and enlisting public support for the ASEAN vision. He also said that AIPA played an important role in promoting person-to-person ties and greater understanding among the parliamentarians as they served the important role of ‘bridges between the people of different ASEAN countries’.

In ending, Prime Minister Lee expressed his confidence that if parliamentarians could continue to lead and manage domestic sentiments, stand firm against xenophobic attitudes and support policies which keep ASEAN economies open and integrated, the region would be able to achieve continued growth, stability and development; and ASEAN’s relevance and strategic weight would be enhanced.

The General Assembly passed a total of 23 resolutions arising from deliberations held by the Committees on Political, Economic, Social, Organisational and Women Parliamentarians of AIPA (WAIPA) matters. Delegates also engaged parliamentarians from the eight AIPA Observer countries on issues of mutual interest during dialogue panels organised on 21 August. A Joint Communiqué summarising the proceedings and decisions of the General Assembly was also tabled and approved by the Assembly during the Second Plenary Session on 22 August.

The General Assembly ended in the traditional spirit of AIPA camaraderie. Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the National Assembly of Thailand, HE Chai Chidchob received the gavel from Speaker Abdullah Tarmugi during the Closing Ceremony on 22 August, symbolising the handing over of the Presidency of AIPA to Thailand.

The 30th AIPA General Assembly will be held in Pattaya City, Thailand, from 2-8 August 2009.

Photo 1

Speaker Abdullah Tarmugi hands over gavel to HE Chai Chidchob, symbolizing the handing over of the Presidency of AIPA to Thailand.

Photo 2

One for the Album: Heads of Delegation with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Speaker Abdullah Tarmugi.