27 May 2025 • Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
In parallel to the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit which took place over 26-27 May in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Regional Support Office of the Bali Process (RSO) brought together members of the diplomatic corps from Bali Process Member and Observer States, colleagues from international organisations, and regional partners in Kuala Lumpur for the RSO Members’ Engagement Function.
The RSO Members’ Engagement Function is held annually in a strategic Bali Process Member State capital—in addition to in Bangkok, Thailand where the RSO offices are hosted, and in Jakarta, Indonesia, in recognition of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia as Co-Chair of the Bali Process alongside the Australian Government. The recent Members’ Engagement Function in Kuala Lumpur was held in acknowledgement of Malaysia’s 2025 Chairmanship of ASEAN.
The networking event supports the establishment and deepening of connections across governments, international organisations and civil society actors working to address irregular migration, people smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crime.
The Members’ Engagement Function took place alongside a Regional Meeting on Countering People Smuggling and Related Transnational Crime, which was organised by the RSO together with the Government of Malaysia, which also holds the role of Voluntary Lead Shepherd for People Smuggling.
The meeting convened ASEAN Member States, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste and Australia to discuss opportunities identified at a 2024 RSO Roundtable that could drive forward progress on a strengthened shared regional approach, ahead of the 2025/26 Sailing Season, which typically starts from around September each year and when attempted maritime crossing reach their peak with calmer seas.
At the Members’ Engagement Function, RSO Co-Managers David Scott (Australia) and Fuad Adriansyah (Indonesia) provided short remarks setting out progress achieved working together with Bali Process Members and looking forward across the RSO 2024-2026 Strategic Plan and Work Plan.
To bring to life some of the topics discussed at the Regional Meeting on Countering People Smuggling and Related Transnational Crime, the RSO worked with multimedia artist Fairuz Sulaiman, and an individual who shared their firsthand experiences of navigating forced displacement through irregular migration channels, which included procuring the services of people smugglers.
Through paper cuttings, collages and stop-motion animations, the performance provided a window into one personal experience, and the complex realities and pressures that drove their decision to choose an irregular migration pathway.
