ASEAN to continue discussion for ASEAN common time zone

[webfact]

ASEAN to continue discussion for ASEAN common time zone
By Digital Content

KOTA KINABALU, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- ASEAN will continue to consider a common time zone for ASEAN capitals, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat here Wednesday, he said the matter was discussed during today's meeting as "there were many strong reasons to have a common time zone".

"This is not a new idea. This was brought up by our leaders, as early as 1995, and they discussed it again around 2004.

"With ASEAN forming an intergrated and cohesive community by the end of this year, we believe a common time zone for ASEAN capitals is an idea worth considering," he said.

Among the benefits of a common time zone for the region involve strengthening business links and inter-governmental cooperation among ASEAN and Asian countries.

Besides that, a common time zone will allow more time for communication purposes, tally the stock market activities, enhance airlines operational system and upgrade the business and banking linkages around the Asian region.

Malaysia has taken over the ASEAN chairmanship for 2015, from Myamnar.

The two-day retreat which ended today, is the curtain-raiser for a series of ministerial and related meetings under Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship this year.

Malaysia has mentioned the idea of a common time zone for ASEAN during a panel session at the World Economic Forum Summit in Davos on Jan 24.

In that session, Malaysia said a common time zone was important towards realising the ASEAN Economic Community. (BERNAMA)


-- TNA 2015-01-29

[Yme]

They can't agree on a common visa or even consumer protection laws so now they want to start screwing with the time?

Asean is an incredible waste of oxygen

[masuk]

From West Sumatra or Burma, across to occ...err Indonesian New Guinea is at least 3 time zones.

It's going to mean a 5am sunrise for some, 8am for others. Smith Island (off Burma) to Jayapura is at least 3 time zones,if not 4.

[rickirs]

Agreeing to a common time zone should be simple. After all the hands of a clock just go around and around repeating themselves. More important might be a common date system.

Thailand mainly uses the Buddhist Era (B.E.) year which is 543 years ahead of the Gregorian year. While one can appreciate Thainess of its history, such a date system does not comport with the other ASEAN's date system nor their own histories. It's time for Thailand to lose its BE; it's for the BEST.

[masuk]

Thailand is not alone is this type of calendar. In Indonesia it is not uncommon to see the Muslim equivalent and right now it's 1436.

As with Thailand, they do use our Gregorian calendar as well.

[Stray]

How do single countries with 3 or 4 different time-zones cope with the so-called 'challenges' mentioned in the article?

For existing economic unions, how do they currently cope with such 'challenges'?

Hey, why not just introduce a global, single time-zone? Then we can all do away with trying to work out what time it is at different locations around the planet.