Malaysia's Asean chair with a twist
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Malaysia's Asean chair with a twist

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A photo dated Jan 30, 2023 shows Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's prime minister, speaking during an interview in Singapore. (Photo: Bloomberg)
A photo dated Jan 30, 2023 shows Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's prime minister, speaking during an interview in Singapore. (Photo: Bloomberg)

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has displayed his political astuteness by appointing former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to his advisory team. The decision reflects his understanding of regional traits and dynamics, where former leaders and influential figures can hold sway over multifaceted regional outlooks.

Several prominent names were reported in the media as prospective members of the team, including former foreign ministers of Singapore and Indonesia, George Yeo and Retno Marsudi. The Thai media believes former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen is also in the team. In the future, other former Asean leaders could join the line-up.

Mr Anwar's sudden but strategic appointments are timely as Malaysia prepares to assume the Asean chairmanship in January 2025. Malaysia wants to ensure its leading role in Asean, the organisation it helped found, maintains both its relevance and neutrality.

Various challenging issues await. First, Asean relations with the two superpowers -- the US and China -- will likely intensify and will top Asean's external relations agenda. Malaysia must conclude the Asean-China 3.0 upgrade.

Donald Trump's return will inevitably harden US policies towards China. Whatever they may be, they will directly affect Asean as China's ties with the bloc continue to grow both politically and economically. Asean has become China's the No. 1 trading partner.

If Mr Anwar confirms the respective names as part of his team, Malaysia will gain the trust of Beijing, as the bloc tries to chart its diplomatic path in the coming months. As one of the parties in the South China Sea disputes, Malaysia has shown innovative approaches in managing ties with China individually and collectively with Asean.

In the coming weeks, Asean will witness significant shifts in global geopolitics, with Mr Trump playing a pivotal role in shaping international relations. His transactional approach to diplomacy could cause greater uncertainty, as leaders and governments worldwide try to win US favour.

Mr Anwar recognises this reality and must balance Malaysian and Asean relations with both superpowers and regional players. Lest we forget, he has been a maverick among Asean leaders, constantly commenting on Washington's double standards in diplomacy, especially pertaining to the Middle East.

As Asean chair, Malaysia will have its own Myanmar-related crisis -- the challenges posed by 120,000 Rohingya refugees in the country.

They have been fleeing from Rakhine state to nearby countries for years, particularly Malaysia and Thailand. Anwar has urged Myanmar to take responsibility for its internal issues and improve conditions for the Rohingya minority. This can only be done if Myanmar achieves peace, holds inclusive and free elections, reaches national reconciliation, and ends the conflict between the military and various ethnic groups.

Furthermore, on a personal level, Mr Anwar's cordial ties with Thai leaders across the political spectrum and his understanding of Thailand's political landscape must be noted. Appointing Thaksin, despite his long list of controversies, was secondary to his desire to show deference to Thaksin. It certainly helped turn the visit of his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn last week into a memorable trip. It remains to be seen if both leaders can facilitate timely decisions regarding Myanmar.

Mr Anwar has supported Thailand's role in efforts to end the Myanmar quagmire. He has already appointed a veteran diplomat, Datuk Othsman Hassan, as the country's special envoy to Myanmar. At the Asean retreat in Langkawi on Jan 18-19, the new Asean chair expects to reveal further details.

In addition, the ongoing insurgency in southern Thailand demands attention, as both nations have a shared interest in resolving this longstanding conflict. However, Thaksin's bloody history in southern Thailand might complicate these efforts.

Over the last week, Thai commentators were mostly flabbergasted by Mr Anwar's decision regarding Thaksin due to his attitude toward the three southern provinces while he was prime minister.

If Mr Anwar succeeds in these efforts during Malaysia's Asean chairmanship, he will become a legendary leader in this part of the world. These days any visible effort to promote peace, national reconciliation, racial harmony, and freedom of expression would attract nominations for prestigious awards including the Nobel Peace Prize.

Bilaterally, closer collaboration between Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur would yield significant political dividends too. Officials on both sides would probably not like to admit that relations could have been far better if there was more mutual trust. Despite their good ties, there has been a notable lack of progress on the political front in border areas where cooperation has often been hindered by bureaucratic challenges and multi-layered vested interest groups.

Now, the two countries can set a new standard in regional partnerships by tackling the southern problem as they did successfully during the communist scare of the 1970s.

Furthermore, Mr Anwar is keen to increase Malaysia's profile and his role on the global stage, particularly since the sour relations with former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad hindered his political rise for nearly three decades.

Now is the time for Mr Anwar to act and boost Malaysia's and Asean's interests. He has shown his eagerness to lead the bloc in all multifaceted areas.

Apart from key Asean-related summits, Mr Anwar has already scheduled a tripartite summit between the bloc, the Gulf State Council (GSC), and China.

The Asean-GSC leaders had their first summit in Saudi Arabia in 2023. The upcoming May summit would further raise his and Asean's profile on the broader geopolitical landscape.

Mr Anwar's close ties with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto -- emerging as a leading figure in moderate Islamic leadership -- are equally important.

Indonesia has been active in Middle Eastern diplomacy. Mr Prabowo's global trips and peace efforts, such as his plan for resolving the Ukraine conflict, have garnered attention despite lacking substantial international backing. Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur also share common positions and ambitions.

Both Malaysia and Indonesia have strong stances regarding Israel and unwavering support for Palestinian self-determination. They are among the most vocal in Asean regarding Middle Eastern politics. Indeed, their cooperation or rivalry could impact regional issues within the broader Islamic world.

Mr Anwar's leadership during Malaysia's Asean chairmanship presents an opportunity to reshape regional dynamics and assert Kuala Lumpur's influence with his advisory team providing support.

He is well-positioned to take on these surmountable challenges; however, success will depend on addressing domestic issues like sustaining economic growth, handling identity politics, solving the Rohingya crisis, and fostering closer ties with neighbors like Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia.

If Mr Anwar can capitalise on these opportunities, he could elevate Malaysia's standing in Asean and secure his legacy as a transformative leader on the global stage.

Kavi Chongkittavorn is a veteran journalist on regional affairs.

Kavi Chongkittavorn

A veteran journalist on regional affairs

Kavi Chongkittavorn is a veteran journalist on regional affairs

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