ASEAN stands for Association of SouthEast Asian Nations. The Government of these nations established ASEAN for political and socio-economic reasons on 8th August 1967, some 36 years ago. There are now 10 ASEAN members from Timor Leste and membership is limited to the South East Asia region only, namely Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam plus Timor Leste by invitation. This is a governmental organization just like the European Union (EU). The permanent HQ is in Jakarta and the Secretary General is a Minister status, appointment is termly. ASEAN summit is held periodically and attended by Head of States and Head of Government.
There is a game called SEA Games (SEA stands for SouthEast Asia) organized biennially by SEA Games Federation (Sports NGO) on rotational basis. This able-bodied game was first organized in 1959. The participation is limited to the 10 member countries of ASEAN or the countries of Southeast Asia sub-region.
Whereas the 1st Asean Para Games (games for athletes with a disability) was inaugurated in year 2001, 25th October 2001 in Kuala Lumpur 4 decades later by the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF), a sports NGO. APSF was initiated and founded by Dato Zainal Abu Zarin, the founding President of MPC as well as APSF with the collaboration of members of Board of Governors and Exco of APSF. The Game is also organized biennially in the same year as the SEA Games and also participation is limited to the ASEAN Countries only. APSF in the pursuit of a tradition wants the Asean Para Games to be possibly organized back-to-back with the SEA Games, just like the twin model of Olympic and the Paralympic Games, Asian Games and the Asian Para Games. The 2nd ASEAN Para Games in Hanoi and 3rd ASEAN Para Games in Manila, 4th ASEAN Para Games in Korat, Thailand, 5th ASEAN Para Games, Kuala Lumpur, and 6th ASEAN Para Games, Solo, Indonesia are in the making of this ASEAN Tradition. And looking at the past, the host and the organizer of the SEA Games is always spearheaded by the Government. Having this games organized with the involvement of the government, it augurs well for the promotion and development of sporting activities of persons with a disability in South East Asia, which is a SUB-REGION OF ASIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE (APC) and the elected President is Dato’ Zainal Abu Zarin.
*APSF had been recognized by ASEAN government as a Civil Society Organization (CSO) in year 2009.
