Postponement of summits can impede ASEAN's work: Malaysian PM

Postponement of the 14th ASEAN Summit in Thailand due to anti-government protests could impede the good work of a regional grouping like ASEAN, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has said.  

The postponement could delay the benefits of closer integration for hundreds of millions living and working in Southeast Asia, Najib said in his blog.  

Najib, who had flown to Pattaya to attend the ASEAN meeting, had to cut short the visit when Thailand declared emergency in Pattaya after thousands of anti-government protesters stormed the venue of the meetings and forced their cancellation.  

"It was unfortunate that my meetings were cancelled one after the other as leaders could not leave or enter the conference venue.  Luckily, with the assistance of the Thai armed forces and police, we made it safely to the airport en route home," said Najib, who returned to Malaysia later.  

The summits, carrying the theme "Acting Together to Cope with Global Challenges", were to have held significance in ASEAN's relations with its dialogue partners besides giving the opportunity for all the countries to discuss current issues of regional and international concern.