Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta says ASEAN accession marks new chapter for stability, reform and digital transformation in exclusive interview.
KUALA LUMPUR: Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN completes its “circle of international engagement” and marks a new chapter in the nation’s journey toward stability, reform and digital transformation, said President José Ramos-Horta.
In an exclusive interview with Bernama, the Nobel laureate said ASEAN membership brings tremendous potential, but its benefits will depend on Timor-Leste’s ability to work hard, modernise governance and strengthen peace at home.
“Joining ASEAN completes our diplomatic engagements — with the United Nations, the WTO and other international institutions. The missing link was ASEAN,” he said.
“It brings benefits only if we are wise enough to seize opportunities and facilitate investment.”
Timor-Leste’s long-awaited accession as the bloc’s 11th member was formalised through the signing of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN during the opening of the 47 ASEAN Summit and Related Summits at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
Ramos-Horta said his government’s immediate priority upon accession is to maintain peace and political stability, ensuring Timor-Leste remains a responsible and constructive member of ASEAN.
“We should keep the peace so that we do not become one more headache or embarrassment for ASEAN,” he said, commending Malaysia’s leadership for promoting unity and mediation within the bloc.
The President highlighted plans to expand digitalisation and streamline bureaucracy to attract investors.
“We have fibre-optic networks and are working with India on digitalising our payment system,” he said, recalling Malaysia’s earlier role in developing biometric passport chips.
On governance, Ramos-Horta proposed a complete digital overhaul of government operations to reduce human interference and enhance transparency.
“I want to make Timor-Leste a completely tax-free country and digitalise every process,” he said.
“The more paperwork, the more chances of delays and corruption. Digitalise — less human involvement, fewer chances of abuse.”
He said digitalisation would also help attract investment, speed up business approvals and ensure that governance aligns with ASEAN’s modern administrative standards.
He said the country’s civil service, about 40,000 employees for 1.4 million people, is “very bloated” and needs reform through retraining and overseas work programmes in Australia, South Korea and Japan. – Bernama
