As members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations prepare to mark the group's 30th anniversary later this year, mounting political and economic uncertainties have prompted intense discussion among regional officials about the body's future.
While member governments remain committed to ASEAN's economic goals and expansion plans, bureaucrats have been worrying over the impact on the organisation of bringing on board the struggling economies of Laos, Cambodia and Burma.
The serious domestic unrest in the latter two countries has also been causing growing concern.
The recent grenade attack on an opposition rally in Phnom Penh and the bombing of a Burmese leader's home have highlighted anew the sharp contrast between daily life in the stable original members of ASEAN and the countries expected to join this year.
While achieving the consensus that has been ASEAN's cherished objective has not been exactly easy among the five founding members - Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand - who were later joined by Brunei, it is likely to be much more difficult as the membership increases.
With the new boys in the bloc, ASEAN's more tranquil years are probably behind it.