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Astanah Abdul Aziz

HE Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz

Deputy Secretary-General for Political-Security Community ASEAN

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Biography

H.E. Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz is appointed as Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) of ASEAN for Political-Security Community beginning mid-February 2024, for a three-year term.

She supports the Secretary-General of ASEAN in developing and maintaining cooperation in political and security matters with Member States, ASEAN Dialogue Partners, Sectoral Dialogue Partners, Development Partner as well as international and regional organisations. She also supports the Secretary-General in maintaining and developing relations with ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners in all spheres.

She leads the APSC Department at the ASEAN Secretariat and provides leadership in the implementation of the APSC Blueprint 2025. After qualifying as an Advocate and Solicitor, Dato’ Astanah began her career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. She served at various appointments within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, her most recent being as Ambassador of Malaysia to the Kingdom of Morocco, with concurrent accreditation to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

Other than serving at bilateral Embassies, Dato’ Astanah had also served at the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations in New York. During her stint there, she was appointed the Vice-Chairman of the Third Committee of the General Assembly; Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Working Group on Human Rights; and ASEAN Coordinator in the Third Committee throughout her term.

Dato’ Astanah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from University Malaya, and a Diploma in Public Administration from the Malaysian Institute of Public Administration (INTAN). She pursued Public Policy Studies at Cambridge University, UK and had also attended an advanced programme on Implementation of Human Rights Conventions at University of Nottingham, UK.