Ong Keng Yong the new Asian sec-gen, BUSINESS TIMES

Business Times (Malaysia), January, 2003

Business Times (Malaysia) 01-07-2003 THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) secretariat held a ceremony in Jakarta yesterday to hand over the secretary-general's post from Rodolfo Severino of the Philippines to Ong Keng Yong of Singapore. "It was truly an honor when the Asean leaders at the summit last year appointed me as Asean secretary-general.

"It is a responsibility that I will hold in high esteem," he told Asean representatives and envoys. Ong Keng Yong, who celebrated his 49th birthday on the day, has served the Foreign Ministry since 1979 in various political directorates. On challenges facing Asean, he said: "These challenges include the fallout from the financial crisis that swept through Asia and the impact of the Sept 11...