To mark a historic milestone of Timor-Leste’s official admission as the 11th member of ASEAN, Dr. José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the 1996 Nobel Peace Laureate, hosted a celebration dinner at Sunway Resort Hotel, Petaling Jaya.
Organised by Connect Timor and KiniEvents, the event brought together diplomats, industry leaders, and changemakers from across the region to celebrate a new era of regional unity and collaboration.
During his welcoming remarks, Tian Chua, Director of Connect Timor, reflected on the deep historical ties that connect Malaysia and Timor-Leste. He recalled how few people once knew about Timor-Leste’s struggle for independence and how that inspired the founding of Connect Timor to promote tourism, investment, and cultural exchange with the young nation. Drawing personal parallels between his birthplace, Melaka, and Timor-Leste, both once under Portuguese rule, he reminded the audience that geographical distance does not diminish shared history or solidarity.
Voice of Conscience and Moral Clarity
In his address, Ramos-Horta reflected on the enduring friendship between Timor-Leste and Malaysia, expressing heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Anwar, whom he regards as a mentor, for Malaysia’s steadfast support during Timor-Leste’s struggle for independence and its journey toward ASEAN membership.
He noted that Malaysia’s enduring faith in Timor-Leste’s place within Southeast Asia had strengthened the nation’s confidence throughout its long and challenging pursuit of regional integration.
Ramos-Horta also turned to economic cooperation, declaring that Timor-Leste is now ‘officially open for business’, inviting Malaysian investors to explore opportunities in key sectors such as oil and gas, agriculture, coffee, and tourism.
Anwar, in his speech, lauded Ramos-Horta as a statesman of moral clarity and courage whose leadership continues to inspire the region. “What the world lacks now is a voice of conscience and moral clarity. And this country, this man, Ramos-Horta, has that which the world lacks,” he said at the fundraising dinner hosted by Ramos-Horta, themed “Timor-Leste: Building a Shared Future with ASEAN.”
“We are confident that Timor-Leste will be a dynamic and valuable contributor to our ASEAN community. Malaysia looks forward to deepening our bilateral ties even further in trade and investment, education and capacity building, and in fostering the people-to-people connections that have always been our greatest strength,” he said.
Among the distinguished guests to celebrate the pivotal moment were Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, and Berjaya Corp founder and chairman Tan Sri Vincent Tan.
Beyond commemorating Timor-Leste’s milestone, the celebration also served a greater purpose — raising funds for the Timor-Leste Foundation for Children’s Future, which supports education, healthcare, and better opportunities for children in need.
The fundraising dinner also reunited activists from the Asia Pacific Conference on East Timor II (APCET II), who had long stood in solidarity. In a symbolic gesture of gratitude, Ramos-Horta personally presented each activist with a traditional Timorese scarf as a souvenir in recognition of the solidarity and support given to the movement for self-determination of Timor Leste.
The evening also featured captivating cultural performances that celebrated the rich heritage of Timor-Leste. Together with the fundraising efforts, the night underscored the enduring friendship between Malaysia and Timor-Leste.
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