47TH ASEAN SUMMIT: MALAYSIA’S HOSPITALITY, PROFESSIONALISM LEAVE LASTING IMPRESSION ON MEDIA DELEGATES

By Maizatul Jamny Muhammad Rosli and Nur Syuhada Yusof

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- As the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits draw to a close today, international media representatives covering the week-long event are departing Kuala Lumpur with admiration for Malaysia’s chairmanship, describing it as a seamless blend of efficiency, warmth and cultural elegance.

For many, the summit held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, was not only about diplomatic exchanges, but also an opportunity to witness Malaysia’s diversity and professionalism in action.

Prime Media World Ltd correspondent, Hamza Wyne, said that Malaysia’s leadership under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his team, had been remarkable, describing the summit as one that would be remembered for years to come.

Speaking to Bernama, he said Malaysia’s ability to balance complex discussions and deliver tangible outcomes reflected both professionalism and unity demonstrated by ASEAN member states.

“I’m very pleased to be here at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre for the 47th ASEAN Summit, and I really appreciate what Malaysia has been doing as chairman for ASEAN. They have done a really very good job, and hosted the event in such a nice way, that this will be remembered for a long time.

“Of course, it’s going to benefit ASEAN, and I think not just ASEAN - it’s going to benefit the whole region, and even the world,” he said, expressing admiration for Malaysia’s meticulous hosting efforts.

Hamza, who has covered numerous international events, said that Malaysia’s warmth extended beyond the official venues, praising its culture and the way Malaysians “make you feel as if you are at home.”

RTTL World News journalist, Paulina Quintao, from Timor-Leste, was equally impressed by Malaysia’s ability to manage the high profile event with professionalism and poise, noting that the country’s success offers valuable lessons for Timor-Leste as it prepares for deeper ASEAN integration.

“Perhaps in the next five or six years, Timor-Leste can also learn from Malaysia’s experience in handling such a major event, because I know it’s not easy - but Malaysia has shown that it is among the best in managing the 47th ASEAN Summit,” she added.

From the Philippines, Niko Llamoso, a writer with the Presidential Broadcast Staff - Radio Television Malacañang, viewed Malaysia’s hosting from a different lens - that of a fellow ASEAN member gearing up to assume the chairmanship next year.

“This is the right time for us, you know, to observe and learn from Malaysia’s hosting of ASEAN,” he said, noting that Malaysia’s example would help the Philippines enhance its communications strategy ahead of its ASEAN chairmanship, next year.

He said Malaysia’s digital readiness and seamless information coordination stood out, offering a valuable model for effective public engagement.

“We (the Philippines) should be on par with the latest technological advancements, especially in utilising social media, so that we can effectively communicate the necessary information and promote the ideals of ASEAN,” he added.

For Leonardo Pape, a journalist with Taz from Germany, the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits provided a deeper insight into how Malaysia’s multicultural society influences its diplomatic approach.

Arriving in Kuala Lumpur a week before the summit, he was immediately struck by the country’s diversity - not only among its people but also in its openness to different perspectives.

“It seems to me that Malaysia is a country which is especially diverse, with many trade connections and a great deal of cultural diversity,” he said, adding that this diversity was reflected in Malaysia’s diplomatic posture as ASEAN Chair.

Pape noted that Malaysia’s inclusive spirit naturally translated into the way it guided regional discussions, emphasising the country’s openness to diverse partnerships, and its skill in bringing together different cultures and political perspectives.

His week in Kuala Lumpur was a deeply personal cultural experience, as he celebrated Deepavali for the first time and immersed himself in the vibrant mix of Indian, Malay and Chinese communities - a diversity which perfectly embodied ASEAN’s ideals of unity in diversity.

As the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits concludes, the voices of these media professionals convey more than observations - they capture the human side of diplomacy.

For Malaysia, this year’s chairmanship may have been about steering regional cooperation, but for those who came from across the world to cover it, it was also about experiencing a nation where diplomacy feels just as welcoming as home.

-- BERNAMA