Anwar defends appointment of Thaksin Shinawatra as Asean adviser

 

(FILE): Last December, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim appointed former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as a member of the informal advisory group to Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship. — AFP FILE PIC

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the appointment of any individual as an informal adviser to the Asean chair is based on their expertise and extensive experience in geopolitics and regional affairs, particularly those involving Myanmar.

He said background checks were not necessary as the appointees are individuals who previously held the highest positions in their respective countries, especially in matters of international relations.

"These individuals have long-standing experience in managing regional and international issues.

"They also offered their services and expertise on the basis of friendship among Asean member states," he said in a written parliamentary reply.

Anwar was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau), who asked whether the government conducted background checks before appointing anyone as an informal adviser to the Asean chair and what the actual role and need of such advisers were.

Last December, Anwar appointed former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as a member of the informal advisory group to Malaysia's Asean chairmanship.

(link: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/12/1148969/updated-anwar-appoin…

Malaysia handed over the Asean chair to the Philippines last month.

Thaksin served as Thai prime minister from 2001 to 2006.

After a dramatic return in August 2023 from self-exile to avoid jail following his overthrow in a 2006 military coup, Thaksin spent six months in hospital detention for health reasons before being released on parole in February last year.

Before his appointment as Asean's informal adviser, Thaksin reportedly met with representatives of several groups opposing Myanmar's military junta, in an effort to help mediate the conflict that has persisted since the 2021 coup.

According to a report by Myanmar's news outlet on May 6, 2024, Thaksin met representatives from the National Unity Government (NUG), which is coordinating the national struggle against the military junta.

In April last year, Anwar met with Myanmar junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok, describing the meeting as conducted under an Asean mandate.

Anwar said that the meeting, the first by an Asean chair since the 2021 coup, was intended to secure a ceasefire and enable post-earthquake humanitarian assistance following the devastating March 28 earthquake in Myanmar.

He said the matter was discussed with all Asean leaders, and none raised any objections. - NST