Asia-Pacific Newsweek
December 18, 2024
Singapore – Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim appointed former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as his “informal adviser” when Kuala Lumpur takes over the ASEAN chair in 2025. Malaysia caused a stir.
While some believe it would be strategic for the country to draw on the experience of the 75-year-old Thai leader and other possible political bosses on regional issues, particularly the crisis in Myanmar, others are wary of looking to foreign politicians Asking for advice with skepticism is also a controversial issue.
Anwar Datuk Seri Anwar said when announcing the appointment during the official visit of Thai Prime Minister Bai Dongtan: “I have agreed to appoint Thaksin Shinawatra as my informal adviser to preside over ASEAN work, and have informally formed a team of A team composed of members from ASEAN countries.
Thaksin returned to Thailand in 2023 after more than a decade of self-imposed exile to avoid criminal charges.
Still, Malaysian officials and analysts say Thaksin's influence not only in Thailand but also in countries such as the United States and China could help ASEAN cope with challenges, such as dealing with Sino-U.S. tensions or territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
During his meeting with Ms Paetongtarn on December 16, Mr Anwar also proposed setting up an informal advisory group to the ASEAN chairperson, composed of former ASEAN leaders. They will reportedly include Singapore's former foreign minister Yeo Eng Boon, according to local news outlet Malay Mail.
Thaksin is influential in Thailand, accepted by the United States, and has close relations with China. This makes him a bridge to Asean (to promote stronger ties),” Bernama quoted Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamed Hasan as saying at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on December 16 regarding his country's ASEAN chairship. explain.
But Ahmad Fadli Shari, the press chief of the opposition Malaysian Islamic Party, called the move “unprecedented” and asked whether the move would benefit ASEAN or whether it was for personal gain to enhance the Malaysian prime minister's image in the international community.
“When did a head of state choose the former leader of another country as his personal adviser?” Mr. Ahmed wrote in a statement on December 16.
“Usually, a head of state would choose a diplomatic expert, a former foreign minister or a scholar in the field of international relations as an adviser. But this time, Anwar chose a former prime minister who was jailed in his own country for abuse of power and corruption. .
On December 17, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad also questioned this choice in an interview with reporters in Putrajaya. He said: “I don't know why he (Anwar) chose him (Thaksin). We have There are a lot of people (to choose from) and he believes there are his own (legal) issues… (but) Anwar has the right to appoint whoever he wants.
Thaksin became Thailand's 23rd prime minister in 2001, but his government was deposed in a military coup in 2006 and he fled the country in 2008. Politics has influence.
Thaksin returned to Thailand in August 2023 and was sentenced to eight years in prison, but this was later reduced to one year by the king. He spent much of his time in the hospital before being paroled.
Dr Ng Yi Shan, a senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said Anwar's choice could be seen as a gesture of good neighborliness and solidarity.
Dr Ong Kian Meng, vice-chancellor for external affairs at Taylor's University in Malaysia, said Thaksin's experience could help Anwar achieve certain goals in ASEAN, such as a peace plan for Myanmar or with members of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump's administration The engagement eases concerns about Malaysia's stance vis-à-vis China and Russia.
Thai media reported in May that Thaksin had offered to serve as a mediator between Myanmar's resistance and the military regime because of his links with current junta leader Min Aung Hlaing during his time as prime minister.
Myanmar, which has been under military rule since a military coup seized power in 2021, has largely ignored calls from its Southeast Asian neighbors to cease hostilities under the so-called five-point consensus.
As of August 2024, nearly 6,000 people had been killed and 30,000 imprisoned in the war-torn country, with a third of the country's 55 million people in need of humanitarian aid.
Ms Kasthuri Prameswaren, an associate professor at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, agreed that Thaksin would be a useful ally in Mr Anwar's push for peace in Myanmar, saying the pair were also concerned about Thai Muslim grievances, extremism and transnational crime.
But Ms Kasturi said that from a political perspective, Mr Anwar sought advice from foreign leaders through the Asean advisory group – even a so-called informal group – rather than Malaysia's own diplomats or experts. Help, this is weird and point out that such a move never happens.
“The move could be a headwind if Anwar is seen as not having enough confidence in himself, his cabinet and the civil service to achieve his desired goals during Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship,” Dr Ong said.
He added that it was unclear what role these informal advisers would play, how they would influence ASEAN decision-making and what they could expect from Mr Anwar in return.
However, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's School of Malaysian and International Studies professor of international trade and investment Dr Sufian Jusot disagreed that Anwar's move damaged confidence in the prime minister, his cabinet and the government.
He said everyone needs to work together, given that Malaysia will have to shoulder many “heavy burdens” as the ASEAN chair, including U.S.-China relations under Trump, relations with Russia and the crisis in Myanmar.
“Perhaps this informal arrangement may be new, but we need to hear expert opinions on these issues to advise civil servants and the government. Given the major events we (Malaysia) will face in 2025, the opposition needs to be mindful of what they say.
