Young Malaysians Need To Play Central Role In ASEAN, Says Dato’ Sri Mustapa

KUALA LUMPUR, 3 July 2015 - YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, the Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) has urged young Malaysians to play a central role in the growth and development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), uniting and cooperating with their counterparts in other member nations to raise the profile and influence of the fast-growing region.

YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa was speaking to a group of 40 students at the myASEAN Leadership Workshop organised by Talent Corporation Malaysia (TalentCorp) in Lanai Kijang, Kuala Lumpur. The three-day workshop, which finished on Friday, kicked off the inaugural myASEANinternship programme, which will place top students from Malaysia and other ASEAN nations in leading Malaysian companies for three months, so they can experience living and working in another ASEAN country. 

ASEAN is one of the world’s fastest growing economic regions, and is home to some 600 million people. Its population is twice the size of the US and bigger still than the European Union. At current growth rates, ASEAN should become the fourth-largest market after the EU, US and China by 2030.

“Today’s young Malaysians, have an incredible opportunity in ASEAN. Right on their doorstep, there is huge economic potential,” stated YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa. “Be ambassadors for the ASEAN region, recognising that to be competitive in today’s globalised economy, you need to embrace an international mindset and think beyond the borders of your country,” YB Dato Sri advised the myASEAN interns.

As part of the myASEANinternship programme, Malaysian students have been placed with companies in Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia, with other destinations still to be finalised. ASEAN students from member states including Myanmar, Indonesia and Vietnam will intern in Malaysia.

The companies involved in the myASEANinternship programme are: AirAsia, Axiata, BDO, CIMB, Digi, GE, Maybank, Nestle, P&G, Securities Commission Malaysia, Sime Darby, Sunway Group, UEM and ZICOlaw.

“I want the programme to grow. People look up to ASEAN and it can unite people from different backgrounds and cultures. Young Malaysians have a central role to play in this, and I look forward to seeing more of them and their counterparts working and thriving together in a bigger, stronger, inclusive ASEAN,” the Minister added.

 During the myASEAN Leadership Workshop students were prepared for their time abroad, working through team activities and learning sessions on topics including Understanding Team Dynamics in ASEAN, The Attitude of a Leader, and Internships as a First Career. They were also given talks by notable speakers including Tan Sri Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, Secretary-General of MITI; Zulfa Ashida Zulkifli, Group Head, People Department at AirAsia; and Noelle Lim, BfM Producer and 2015 Eisenhower Fellow.

The myASEANinternship programme is a collaboration between the MITI and TalentCorp to increase awareness of the ASEAN region among youth in Malaysia. 

JOINTLY ISSUED BY MITI & TALENTCORP