Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has appointed former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an “informal adviser” during Malaysia’s chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year.
Anwar made the announcement during a press conference in Putrajaya yesterday, alongside visiting Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s youngest daughter and the fourth member of their family to lead Thailand.
Anwar hailed the 75-year-old’s experience and said it would benefit Malaysia during its chairmanship.
“I have agreed to appoint [Thaksin] as my informal adviser on chairing ASEAN, with a team of members from ASEAN countries in an informal set-up,” Anwar said, according to a report by the Straits Times. “Thank you for agreeing to this because we need the benefit of the experience of such statesmen.”
Anwar said that the idea has been suggested by his government and accepted by Bangkok. He said that Thaksin would be just one of an “informal advisory group” of ASEAN elder statesmen who would “share expertise and contribute ideas on ASEAN issues.” According to Malaysian media reports, he is also considering former Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo, 70, to be part of the advisory body. The name of Retno Marsudi, until recently the foreign minister of Indonesia, has also reportedly been raised.
Thaksin has been perhaps the most consequential figure in Thai politics since the turn of the century, during which time his clashes with the conservative establishment have dictated the rhythm of the country’s politics. Last year, he was allowed to return to Thailand after nearly 15 years in self-exile. He has since come to occupy an influential behind-the-scenes position within the Pheu Thai party, which formed government after the 2023 general election.
Since his return, Thaksin has also met with a number of foreign dignitaries, including former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto. Earlier this year, he also offered his services as a mediator in Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, meeting with several factions opposed to the military junta, although the efforts do not appear to have borne much fruit.
Anwar did not offer any more details about what specific advice he would seek from Thaksin, nor how often the pair would consult; presumably, the Malaysian government will offer more details about the arrangement in the weeks to come.
Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, told Channel News Asia that Thaksin’s appointment is likely aimed at tapping Thaksin’s contacts and experience in both the diplomatic and economic realms.
“It’s both a gesture of neighborly friendliness and also a desire to make use of Thaksin’s considerable global connections – ranging from trade and investment to diplomatic goodwill – to ASEAN,” he told the news outlet.
One is inclined to be skeptical about the benefit of these elder statesmen. It would seem that many of the most serious issues afflicting ASEAN are inherent to its structure and norms, and on the thorniest issues facing the bloc, such as the civil war in Myanmar, it is hard to see how any amount of advice can bridge the divergent interests of member states.
That said, on the relatively non-controversial integrative and economic issues that make up the bulk of ASEAN’s agenda, there is no harm, and may even be some benefit, in soliciting the advice of experienced national leaders.