46th ASEAN Summit

The 46th ASEAN Summit, set to take place on May 26 and 27 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), is expected to attract around 20,000 attendees, including delegates, representatives, participants, and event staff. Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, the Chief Secretary to the Government, stated on 5 May that preparations for the event are proceeding smoothly, with 19 heads of state and government scheduled to attend, including leaders from Gulf countries and China. He also mentioned that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will review the preparations and hold a special meeting, marking the final phase of readiness for the summit.

Shamsul Azri spoke after inspecting the venue at KLCC, where he spent 40 minutes touring the site before attending a briefing with Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zain, the Foreign Ministry's secretary-general. As part of Malaysia’s role as ASEAN Chair for 2025, the country will also host the ASEAN Summit with Dialogue Partners in late October. The upcoming 46th ASEAN Summit will gather leaders from the 10 ASEAN member states to address regional issues, foster economic cooperation, and promote the principles of inclusivity and sustainability.

Kuala Lumpur Convention Center

Malaysia took over the ASEAN Chairmanship from Laos, with the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability,’ reflecting the country’s goal of fostering a united and prosperous ASEAN. It aims to create a foundation for unity in both regional and global engagement, underscoring the region's collective commitment to building a resilient and equitable future. This is the fifth time Malaysia has held the ASEAN Chair, having previously assumed the role in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.Founded on August 8, 1967, ASEAN currently comprises 10 Southeast Asian nations: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Timor-Leste is in the process of becoming a full member.

Due to the high profile nature of the event, many road closures and traffic diversions are expected, contributing to higher traveling times on the road. Thus it will be a good idea to utilize public transportation such as the LRT or MRT if you have any matters to attend to in the area.