Anwar meets Thaksin for Asean talks, meeting place unconfirmed

Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim described having a fruitful discussion yesterday with former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra, whom he has appointed as an informal advisor for Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship.

“The conversation centred on the critical regional priorities of revitalising economies, leveraging emergent technologies, fostering peace in southern Thailand and addressing the Myanmar crisis,” Anwar wrote on his Facebook page today.

Calling Thaksin a “dear friend”, Anwar reported that they had also discussed ways of enhancing the already strong ties between Malaysia and Thailand, aligning them with the vision for sustainable development and regional cohesion, which he shared with Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

“For decades, Thaksin and I have shared the belief that Malaysia and Thailand could achieve much more together, not only for our respective nations but for the region as a whole. We are committed to turning that vision into reality,” Anwar wrote.

The circumstances of yesterday’s meeting with Thaksin, his ‘ASEAN advisor’, remain somewhat intriguing, amidst reports suggesting that Thaksin, along with Phayao MP Thammanat Prompao, sailed from Phuket to Lipe Island off Satun province.

On the way, Thaksin reportedly met with Anwar at sea, but still in Thai waters.

Malaysian media had however suggested that Anwar would meet Thaksin on Malaysia's Langkawi Island.

Thaksin, now a free man, still faces charges of violating the lèse majesté law during an interview he gave in South Korea decades ago. As such, he is required to seek permission from the court before traveling abroad.

Thaksin confirmed today that his meeting with Anwar went smoothly.