Timor Leste Joining Asean A Victory For Regional Solidarity

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Last week, on May 26, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, representing Malaysia, this year’s Asean chair, made a historic announcement: Timor-Leste will become a full member of Asean at the 47th summit this October.
To many Malaysians, it may have seemed like a routine diplomatic development. In truth, it reflects the spirit of a nation steadfast in its pursuit of recognition, sovereignty, and a rightful place in the regional community.
Timor-Leste’s accession follows a 14-year journey, from its application in 2011 to attaining observer status in 2022. Beyond these formal milestones lies a deeper and more powerful narrative of hope - one shaped by resilience, solidarity, and the striving for liberation.
Few Malaysians are aware of the sacrifices made, or of the important role that Malaysian civil society activists played in supporting Timor-Leste’s path to independence and eventual integration into Asean.
ADSA bond that began far away
To many Malaysians, Timor-Leste may seem like a distant and unfamiliar island, with little bearing on our daily lives. Yet our histories are more intertwined than we realise. Those familiar with the region’s past may recall that both Malacca and Timor-Leste once shared a connection under Portuguese colonial rule. But our shared legacy extends well beyond colonialism.
In the 1980s, Australian university campuses became vibrant hubs of political activism, particularly among Southeast Asian overseas students. Malaysian and Timorese student activists forged close alliances, bound by a common commitment to justice and democracy. Alongside peers from Burma, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore, they stood united in opposition to authoritarianism, driven by a shared vision of freedom.
Among all the struggles, Timor-Leste’s plight stood out. Its people were not only stripped of basic human rights, but of their very nationhood, denied under Indonesian military occupation. The brutal invasion forced thousands into exile - including José Ramos-Horta, now Timor-Leste’s president, and, at the time, the unfaltering voice of his people at the United Nations.
Timor-Leste president José Ramos-HortaRamos-Horta was more than just a spokesperson for East Timor. He shared his deep experience in international diplomacy with social movements around the world. He mentored activists from oppressed nations and trained them to effectively engage with the UN and other global institutions for lobbying and advocacy. Together, we strategised, organised and imagined a region where freedom and human dignity would one day be proudly upheld.
Breaking the silence
In 1975, East Timor briefly declared independence from Portugal, only to be invaded by Indonesia under Suharto’s dictatorship. The resulting violence claimed an estimated 200,000 lives, nearly a third of the population. For years, Asean remained silent, clinging to its dogma of “non-interference”.
That facade of peace was shattered in 1991, when Indonesian troops massacred peaceful protestors at the Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili. Among the victims was Kamal Bamadhaj, a Malaysian student activist. His death resonated deeply with civil society in Malaysia and jolted public consciousness.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Malaysian NGOs became more vocal in condemning the atrocities in Timor-Leste. At the same time, human rights conditions deteriorated across the region with violent crackdowns, particularly in Burma and Indonesia.
Asean, having just admitted Burma’s military junta, was increasingly seen as complicit in legitimising repression. Malaysian activists criticised their own government for prioritising ties with authoritarian regimes above human rights and moral responsibility.
The infamous Apcet incident
After the Santa Cruz massacre, regional human rights groups and the Timor-Leste resistance movement recognised the need for a new advocacy strategy. It was time to bring the focus back to Southeast Asia. Until then, most campaigning had been centred in Western countries. Now, solidarity had to be built from within Asean itself.
ADSThe solidarity movement began planning a series of high-profile conferences in Asean capitals. In 1994, the Asia-Pacific Conference on East Timor (Apcet) was held in Manila. Despite some government resistance, the conference went ahead successfully and drew significant public attention. The Philippines, having emerged from the Marcos dictatorship, had become a hub for vibrant civil society activism.
Two years later, a second Apcet conference was scheduled for Kuala Lumpur. This time, the Malaysian government, then a close ally of Suharto’s Indonesia, attempted to shut it down. On the day of the conference, a pro-government mob violently stormed the venue. Local activists were arrested and foreign delegates deported. Ironically, the crackdown backfired, becoming a public relations disaster for the Malaysian authorities and a turning point in raising international awareness of Timor-Leste’s struggle.
Kuala LumpurIn a striking twist of political irony, the mob was led by Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, now Malaysia’s home minister, acting under the direction of then-Umno Youth Chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who now serves as deputy prime minister. At the time, the government under Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim remained committed to Asean’s non-interference doctrine.
Yet, history has a way of transforming its actors. Despite their earlier opposition, many of these same leaders would later become key supporters of Timor-Leste’s journey to independence.
Reformasi and regional shifts
The 1997 Asian financial crisis unleashed a wave of social and political upheaval across Southeast Asia. In both Malaysia and Indonesia, grassroots movements rose to demand democratic reform and greater accountability. In 1998, Suharto’s resignation marked a turning point and opened the door for a UN-sponsored referendum in Timor-Leste. The Timorese people voted overwhelmingly for independence, but not before enduring a final, brutal storm of violence from Indonesia-backed militias.
From the devastation, Timor-Leste emerged, first under UN administration, then as a sovereign nation in 2002. Malaysia played a meaningful role in this transition, contributing peacekeepers and aid. Despite earlier political alignments, Mahathir’s administration took a constructive stance in supporting Timor-Leste’s post-conflict reconstruction.
Meanwhile, in Malaysia, Anwar, who launched the country’s own “Reformasi” movement, was imprisoned amid internal political turmoil. In a powerful act of transnational solidarity, Ramos-Horta, who had assumed key government positions in the newly independent Timor-Leste, publicly voiced support for Anwar. It was a bold gesture from a leader of a young nation still navigating its path toward Asean membership.
Prime Minister Anwar IbrahimA shared triumph
Timor-Leste’s journey into Asean is not merely a great diplomatic landmark, but it is a testimony to decades of unwavering people-to-people solidarity, transnational activism, and enduring belief in justice and self-determination.
Its inclusion rekindles the hope that Asean can rise above a club of autocrats and evolve into a genuine regional community rooted in shared values.
For Malaysians, this is also a time for reflection. From the streets of Kuala Lumpur to the corridors of the UN, our civil society has long stood in solidarity with Timor-Leste. Today, Timor-Leste stands with us - no longer on the margins, but as a full and equal member of our Southeast Asian family.
History does not forget the sacrifices made in silence. The nationhood of Timor-Leste was won through blood, sweat, tears and unyielding courage. The achievement was made possible by brave people in Timor-Leste and Malaysia, as well as by those across the region who stood by them. Its seat at the Asean table is a victory for Southeast Asia’s conscience. And a reminder that solidarity, grounded in truth and justice, holds the power to reshape the world. - Mkini
TIAN CHUA is a former Batu MP and director of Connect Timor, a non-profit organisation founded by longtime supporters of Timor-Leste’s independence, strengthening bilateral ties by unlocking business, trade, and tourism opportunities, fostering shared prosperity.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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