Thaksin was convicted in Thailand of corruption and abuse of power, while Hun Sen had sparked controversy for cracking down on the opposition, media and civil society while he was in power in Cambodia.
But an analyst had told CNA that Thaksin’s appointment could be linked to his familiarity with Myanmar’s political landscape as well as his connections in the country.
In January 2022, when Cambodia was ASEAN chair, Hun Sen met the leader of Myanmar’s junta Min Aung Hlaing, becoming the first foreign leader to visit Myanmar since the junta seized power in a coup in 2021.
Hun Sen’s visit drew criticism in ASEAN as the bloc remained divided on how to approach Myanmar, with then-Malaysian foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah saying Hun Sen should have consulted other members first.
CRYPTOCURRENCY POLICY
While Anwar did not elaborate on his cryptocurrency discussions with the ASEAN advisory team, the Malaysian premier revealed that the government is considering drafting a policy on digital finance, local media reported on Jan 15.
The policy could see Malaysia recognising the use of cryptocurrencies and the existence of blockchain technology.
At the end of a three-day official visit to Abu Dhabi in January, Anwar told Malaysia reporters he had discussed the idea with the United Arab Emirates government and cryptocurrency giant Binance.
“This innovation, like AI, will change the financial world. We should not sit idly and wait, only to be forced to act after others have already done so,” Anwar reportedly said.
