He said the idea was not new as it was first proposed in 1995, re-proposed by Malaysia in 2006, and again in 2015 when Malaysia last chaired Asean.

“As it is, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, central Indonesia, and the Philippines are already at GMT+8, in sync with China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau and western Australia.

“All it takes is for Indonesia to move western Indonesia, which includes Jakarta, to the same time zone as central Indonesia where the new administrative capital Nusantara is located, and for Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam to shift from GMT+7 to GMT+8.

“This would leave only Myanmar, being the westernmost part of Asean, currently GMT+6.30, and the less populous eastern Indonesia, currently at GMT+9, outside the Asean central time zone,” he said in his opening address at the 2025 Malaysia Economic and Strategic Outlook Forum here today.

Wahid said a common central time zone would further integrate Asean from an economic, social, and socio-political perspective.

“The path ahead is not without its challenges. But with challenges come opportunities. Malaysia’s economic outlook, proactive approach to financial markets, and leadership in regional cooperation position us to emerge stronger and more resilient.

“To realise this vision, collaboration between governments, businesses, and civil societies is crucial. It is through shared commitments and coordinated efforts that we can navigate the complexities of the global landscape and drive sustainable growth for our nation and the region,” he added.