BANGKOK, Jan 4 — The appointment of former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an informal adviser for Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship in 2025 presents a strategic opportunity for strengthening regional collaboration, with promising prospects for bilateral ties and the broader Asean community.
Prince of Songkla University's Pattani campus' Faculty of Political Science assistant professor Yasmin Sattar said the partnership could unlock mutual benefits across multiple sectors including trade, energy partnerships, and security collaboration.
“For Malaysia, the arrangement offers valuable access to seasoned regional perspectives and could potentially open new avenues for addressing critical challenges, particularly in energy security and border management,” she told Bernama recently.
Thailand also stands to benefit substantially from the partnership through reinforced economic cooperation and strengthened diplomatic channels.
“The arrangement could be especially significant for the Deep South region, where it might create fresh opportunities for peace dialogues and conflict resolution," Yasmin said.
On the global stage, she believes the move highlights Malaysia’s commitment to embracing diverse perspectives in international diplomacy, positioning itself as a forward-thinking nation during its Asean chairmanship.
"The (Thaksin) appointment represents a bold strategic move and appears crafted to strengthen Malaysia's position across different spheres while leveraging the experience of regional figures, particularly during Malaysia's Asean chairmanship," Yasmin noted.
Within the Asean region, the move reinforces Malaysia's leadership role and could potentially enhance coordination among member states.
While the advisory role offers several promising avenues for regional conflict resolution, she said expectations should remain realistic to ensure tangible outcomes.
Last month, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the appointment of Thaksin as his unofficial adviser for chairing Asean in 2025.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference with Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who visited Malaysia on December 16 in Putrajaya.
Sukhothai Thammathirat University's School of Political Science's associate professor Yuttaporn Issarachai said Thaksin’s appointment could strengthen bilateral ties and benefit both countries, particularly in addressing shared challenges like security issues along the Thai-Malaysian border.
He added that Thaksin’s personal relationships with Asean leaders, including those from Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, and even Myanmar, give him a distinct advantage in fostering regional cooperation.
Malaysia officially assumed the Asean chairmanship on Wednesday (January 1). It previously chaired Asean in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.
— Bernama
