Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Azhar Azizan Harun, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malaysia, on September 8 affirmed the Malaysian Parliament’s undivided support of the remarkable efforts by AIPA members towards the realisation and collaboration of a greater ASEAN.

In his remarks at the first plenary session of the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-41), held in the form of video conference, the Speaker said the invisible enemy of COVID-19 threatens to harm the prospect and development of each ASEAN member state.

“If there was ever a moment necessary for solidarity, cooperation, support and commonality, this is ASEAN’s moment to showcase its commitment towards a region of greater tomorrows,” he stressed.

The Malaysian Parliament always support closer relations among AIPA members, the Speaker said.

The same day, Malaysia’s news agency Bernama ran an article highlighting efforts by the Vietnamese National Assembly in its capacity as AIPA Chair 2020.

The article quoted Vietnamese NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan as saying that the Vietnamese legislature will make all-out efforts to successfully organise AIPA-41 as well as other ativities within the AIPA Year 2020.

The success of AIPA-41 and the AIPA Year 2020 will contribute to promoting the relationship between AIPA and ASEAN, enhancing coordination between legislative and executive channels, and accellerating the building of the ASEAN Community, for peace, stability, safety, prosperity and happiness, Ngan said.

Earlier, AIPA-41 also made  headlines of Malaysia’s Barita Harian and The Star newspapers. The event, the first General Assembly of AIPA held in the form of video conference, is taking place from September 8 -10 under the chair of Vietnam, with the theme of “Parliamentary Diplomacy for Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community.”/.