3-2-2025 (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim hosted a significant meeting with two prominent Southeast Asian political figures on Sunday, marking a crucial development in regional diplomacy and economic discussions.
The talks, which brought together former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Singapore’s former Foreign Minister George Yeo, focused on pressing ASEAN regional matters and the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency markets.
Taking to Facebook, Prime Minister Anwar revealed that his initial discussions with Thaksin centred on Myanmar’s ongoing situation and cryptocurrency developments. The dialogue expanded in the evening when George Yeo joined the proceedings.
This meeting follows Anwar’s innovative December initiative to establish an informal advisory council comprising former regional leaders. Thaksin, who has been tapped to spearhead this unprecedented advisory body, will provide strategic counsel during Malaysia’s tenure as ASEAN chair.
The formation of this advisory group represents a groundbreaking shift in ASEAN’s diplomatic approach, as it marks the first instance where a chair country has formally engaged former leaders from member states in an advisory capacity.
Sources close to the matter, as reported by the Malay Mail, confirmed George Yeo’s participation in this advisory framework. The group’s potential expansion was further highlighted by reports from the Cambodia Chinese Daily, which indicated that former Cambodian Premier Hun Sen had also received an invitation to join the council.
