Tun Abdul Razak, the second Prime Minister of Malaysia, was a key founder of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1967 along with foreign ministers from Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. ASEAN was formed to promote regional cooperation and prevent foreign interference in Southeast Asia. It has since grown to include 10 member states and has benefited Malaysia by enhancing its international prestige, encouraging open dialogue to reduce security risks, fostering closer economic integration with neighbors, and facilitating regional development assistance.