Mahathir questions Anwar’s decision to appoint Thaksin as ASEAN advisor

The appointment of Thaksin Shinawatra as an advisor during Malaysia’s rotating chairmanship of ASEAN has surprised many, including former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir, a two-time prime minister who served for 24 years, said there were many potential candidates whom Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim could have appointed.

"I don't know why he chose Thaksin, but there are other options. Thaksin also has his own issues, including legal cases," Mahathir told Malaysian media,

while noting that it is within Anwar’s rights to choose Thaksin.

Anwar, the next chairman of ASEAN, announced the appointment of the controversial former Thai prime minister as one of his advisors during this month’s visit to Malaysia by Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s daughter.

Anwar and Thaksin met last week, the venue for which was kept confidential. Some reported that it took place on Langkawi Island in Malaysia, while others claimed it occurred on a yacht in Thai waters.

According to Malaysia’s state-run Bernama news agency, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said, “Thaksin is influential in Thailand, is accepted by the US and has a close relationship with China. This positions Thaksin as a bridge for ASEAN to foster stronger ties.”

Opposition Parti Islam Se-Malaysia’s information chief and MP, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, described the move, however, as unprecedented and questioned whether it would benefit ASEAN or is, in fact, a personal effort to boost the Malaysian prime minister’s international image.

The Straits Times quoted Ahmad as having written; “Since when does the head of state choose a former leader of another country as his personal adviser?

Usually, the head of state chooses a diplomatic expert, a former foreign affairs minister or an academic, whose expertise is in international relations as an adviser but, this time, Anwar has chosen a former prime minister who has been sentenced to jail in his own country for abuse of power and corruption.”