When the Asean was created, way back in 1967, the leaders who decided on its creation agreed on one important thing: English will be the working language for the association.
There were no decision or need for an ‘official’ language, it seems, since everyone understood Bahasa Inggeris very well at that time, perhaps. Then why change it? Why not Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese or Laos language?
Here’s the clause that says English is the working language of the Asean: “Article 34 of the Asean Charter has stipulated that the ‘working language of Asean shall be English‘. This is an agreement made by all Heads of States of Asean member states when the Charter was adopted.”
