By Dr Bahrulmazi Edrak

Timor-Leste’s admission as a member of ASEAN at the recent 47th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur marked a historic moment for both the country and the region. The entry to ASEAN, after 14 years of waiting, reflects the ongoing journey toward bloc unity, cooperation and shared progress in Southeast Asia.

I have observed, through personal experiences, the unique characteristics of Timor-Leste and its promising potential as part of ASEAN’s future.

I had the privilege of being in Timor-Leste twice. The first was in 2014, under a research project organised by MyCommunity of the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, and the second was in 2016, when I was assigned to deliver a talk on cooperatives as the CEO of iCOOP College. Both visits had a lasting impact on me, as I came to know a young nation of warmth, hope and connection.

Openness and toleration

As a Muslim visitor, I found the openness and toleration of the largely Catholic Timorese people a comforting asset. I performed a Friday prayer at the An-Nur Mosque in Dili, where most of the congregation were of Indonesian descent. The khutbah was delivered in the Indonesian language, making me feel near to home. I remember once a taxi driver proudly pointing to me Kris Dayanti’s mansion in the area (Kris is a famous Indonesian singer married to a Timorese native entrepreneur).

Next to the mosque was a madrasah (Islamic school), aligned with the national education system. It is an indication of the extent to which Islamic education has been integrated within the country’s multicultural education mainstream.

Although Muslims make up a small minority, they are respected, and their religious needs are recognised.

Finding halal food in Dili could be a challenge, but with some effort, it was manageable. A Timorese friend of mine suggested that I ask restaurant owners where their meat came from. If the meat had been imported, it was mostly from Brazil, and it normally came with a halal logo. Meat from local markets, on the other hand, was uncertified. This helpful and practical advice reflected the locals’ awareness and genuine effort to accommodate Muslim visitors.

Openness to diversity

Near the coast, locals affectionately refer to an area as “Little Brazil”, where the Statue of Jesus Christ stands tall on a hill overlooking Dili’s bay, symbolising faith and openness to diversity. To my delight, I realised that I did not need to fly all the way to Rio de Janeiro for such an iconic sight!

After delivering a talk on cooperatives, I had the opportunity to explore an organic coffee plantation run by a local cooperative in the highland outskirts of Dili. The fertile volcanic soil and cool hilly air made Timor-Leste one of the world's premier coffee-producing regions. What was most impressive to me was discovering that the coffee beans were sold to Starbucks, connecting small farmers in remote villages to the global market. This cooperative model not only empowers local communities to be self-reliant but also showcases how community-based enterprises can lift rural livelihoods.

Another uniqueness of Timor-Leste’s people lies in their multilingualism. Most Timorese can communicate in Tetum, Portuguese, Indonesian and English, reflecting their colonial history and regional connections. This linguistic versatility makes them natural connectors between Southeast Asia and the Portuguese-speaking world.

Interestingly, many Malay language words have Portuguese roots. To exemplify, kereta (car) in the Malay language comes from the Portuguese karata or carata, meaning carriage. Words such as bomba (fire brigade), sekolah (school), meja (table), bendera (flag), and jendela (window) also trace their origins to Portuguese.

The economy of Timor-Leste is small but maturing. I was intrigued to learn that although the US dollar is still the country’s official currency, the government has issued local coins, called “Centavos”, for relatively smaller transactions.

Vibrant markets

Markets in Dili are vibrant, selling products from Indonesia, Brazil and Portugal, reflecting the nation’s diverse trade links. There are certainly many more Malaysian and ASEAN products which could be exported into the Timorese market. Such economic integration will now naturally strengthen its regional ties as Timor-Leste has become a full member of ASEAN.

Timor-Leste’s aspiration to join ASEAN is not merely political; it is regional, cultural, and emotional. Emotionally, the country already feels like part of the regional family. The shared faith, languages, culture and food reflect the same values that define the ASEAN community.

With its admission to ASEAN, visa-free entry for 30 days will make Timor-Leste more accessible to ASEAN tourists, entrepreneurs and educators. No more needing to shell out US$30 at immigration for a visa upon arrival.

More ASEAN airlines will soon fly to Dili, opening up more connections and stimulating tourism and business. Promoting ASEAN-made products and investments in Timor-Leste will diversify the economy and increase its base for international trading.

Timor-Leste may be geographically small, but its people's vision is huge. As the country establishes its proximity within ASEAN, it stands ready to contribute, learn and uphold the 1967 tenet of the founding ASEAN fathers and be part of the new ASEAN Community 2045 agenda. In time to come, Timor-Leste will chair ASEAN and lead the regional bloc.

From the mosque where I prayed alongside Muslim brothers to the coffee plantation where farmers proudly showed off their harvest, almost 10 years ago, I foresaw a nation finding its voice in an era of greater contribution and unity.

Standing on Dili’s shores before departing for the airport, I glimpsed a future in which Timor-Leste not only participates but contributes its values to ASEAN. The door has opened, and I eagerly anticipate revisiting Dili as an ASEAN “citizen”. Insya Allah (God willing).

Welcome to ASEAN, Timor-Leste!

-- BERNAMA

Dr Bahrulmazi Edrak (bahrulmazi@plk.edu.my / dredrak@alzette.edu.eu) is Certified TVET Manager at Pusat Latihan Kerjaya, Kuala Lumpur, Vice President of Majlis Integrasi Pendidikan Negara (MIPN) & Adjunct Professor at Alzette University, France.