Anwar appoints Thaksin as special advisor to Asean chair next year

The Star

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has appointed former Thailand premier Thaksin Shinawatra as his personal advisor on Malaysia’s chairmanship of Asean next year.  Speaking at a joint press conference with Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Anwar said Thaksin's advice would be very useful to Malaysia, given his experience as a statesman.  He also said economic cooperation remains a cornerstone of Malaysia-Thailand relations, with both countries targeting US$30 billion in trade by 2027.  Read more at https://tinyurl.com/yc4pepke  WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

Transcript

00:00Ladies and gentlemen, well, it's difficult to give a formal diplomatic welcome to Prime

00:11Minister Petang Thon because she happens to be a great family friend and we are actually

00:22welcoming her to second home in Malaysia.

00:27But of course, we are delighted to have her, although she has been in the office for just

00:33four months, but she has done remarkably well with the team, and I am extremely pleased

00:42because she takes Malaysia as an important friend and economic, both political, cultural

00:52relationship with key ministers, and I have reciprocated by the presence of the Deputy

00:58Prime Minister and a very large contingent of members of the Cabinet.

01:05Now, the seventh annual consultation is timely, of course, taking stock of the excellent bilateral

01:15relations, following through our excellent relations with former Prime Minister Taksin

01:24Sinowatra, who I have agreed to appoint as my personal advisor, Chairman of ASEAN, with

01:38a team of members from ASEAN countries in informal set-up, and thank you for agreeing

01:44to this because we need the benefit of experience of such statesmen.

01:52And secondly, of course, to state that the continued bilateral relations from the time

02:04we were working well with former Prime Minister Seta, even exchanges here in Bangkok, in Phuket,

02:14in Bukit Kayu Itam, in Datuk Panjang, which is spectacular in terms of our record of bilateral

02:22relations, which has not happened before.

02:27So, there is certainly huge progress in terms of the road alignment, CQS Bukit Kayu Itam

02:36and CIQ Sadao, and the construction of the second bridge, Lengking Ratao Panjang and

02:42Sungai Kolok in Thailand, and this would, of course, enhance our collaboration and even

02:49settling many issues, water management and containing, in terms of flood mitigation,

02:57Sungai Kelantan, Sungai Kolok, and the areas in the south of Thailand and north Malaya,

03:03particularly in Kelantan and Terengganu.

03:06We also agreed to support efforts to bolster intra-ASEAN trade and joint investments that

03:16both ministers' investments and trade has agreed. We have the target of $30 billion

03:25by 2027. We can be seen to be very ambitious, but looking at the huge economic potential

03:35in Thailand and also in Malaysia, there are some things that we need to work. We are committed,

03:44as I have already assured repeatedly to leaders in Thailand in the past and now, that we will

03:52do whatever is necessary to ensure that the dialogue process with the southern border

03:59promises of Thailand materialise and to then resolve to a joint comprehensive plan towards peace.

04:11Your Excellency, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister of Malaysia,

04:17members of the media, ladies and gentlemen, selamat pagi.

04:27Sawadikap. First, allow me to thank His Excellency once again for the very warm hospitality to me

04:36and extend it to my delegation during this inductory visit. We very appreciate everything

04:46that's happening right now and yesterday as well. So, coming here for me is very honoured

04:54to have met you again and we talked about many things, the country issues and everything that

05:05we can work together for the good of our both countries and thank you for being so kind. So,

05:14when I meet with other leaders, of course, sometimes I get nervous, but with you I feel like

05:23I can talk or you can advise with very valuable comments. So, I'll take that along with my journey.

05:36So, thank you very much and the main purpose of my visit is to reaffirm the importance of

05:45Thai-Malaysian friendship and cooperation among a wide range of issues aimed at expanding and

05:52deepening our collaborations discussed a moment ago at the seventh annual consultation.

06:00I committed to maintain the dynamics of our relationships and our efforts towards common

06:08peace and prosperity and Thailand supports Malaysia for the ASEAN chairmanship 2025.

06:18We will continue to work closely towards better border road and rail connectivity as well

06:24to facilitate more broader trade and people-to-people interactions. You are very welcome

06:31to visit Thailand anytime that you want. I will be your guide tour and arrange all the

06:38very nice places and nice food to go. So, thank you very much and thank you.

06:45Thank you, Honourable Prime Minister.

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