Thaksin Shinawatra Appointed as Adviser to Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim for ASEAN Role
Kuala Lumpur – Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has appointed former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as his personal adviser. Thaksin will support Anwar during his leadership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year.
Anwar announced the appointment on Monday during Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s visit to Malaysia. Paetongtarn is Thaksin’s youngest daughter and the fourth member of his family to hold Thailand’s top political post.
Thaksin’s role will be informal, alongside advisers from other ASEAN member states. “Thank you for agreeing to this,” Anwar said, calling Thaksin a “statesman” whose experience will benefit ASEAN.
Thaksin, 75, is a major figure in Thai politics, influencing multiple administrations over the past 20 years. Although he was found guilty of abuse of power and conflicts of interest, he evaded charges for 15 years in self-imposed exile.
In August 2023, Thaksin returned to Thailand and was jailed for eight years. However, his sentence was reduced to one year by the Thai king. Despite his legal troubles, Thaksin’s political influence remains strong.
