MALAYSIAN Prime Minister and Asean chair Anwar Ibrahim held talks with Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing at Bangkok’s Rosewood Hotel this afternoon (Aug. 17) after meeting Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra at Government House, Amarin TV said.
The Malaysian leader arrived at the hotel at 3 p.m. and five minutes later the Myanmar strongman’s motorcade drove up. This comprised a VIP car, a car from the Foreign Ministry, an escort car, an official car for the ambassador, and a van with MMR 04 licence plate, which is the abbreviation for Myanmar.
Anwar Ibrahim is expected to discuss assistance to Myanmar after the massive earthquake on March 28 with aftershocks still continuing to this day and how to bring peace to the country.
Asean has barred junta officials from summits after their 2021 coup deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and plunged Myanmar into a fractious civil war.
Myanmar’s junta announced a ceasefire following the earthquake but it is reported that fighting is still continuing. The Malaysian leader is expected to appeal for the truce to continue beyond the Apr. 22 expiry date, The Star newspaper said.
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as adviser to Anwar Ibrahim in his capacity as Asean chair, was scheduled to talk to him at this same hotel at 4.30 p.m.
The Thai and Malaysian prime ministers talked about three main issues – Su-ngai Kolok bridge, southern border peace and tariffs US President Donald Trump has imposed on several countries.
Paetongtarn asked for Malaysia’s cooperation in turning the southern border zone from a battlefield into a marketplace with focus on promoting Halal food and rubber industry.
Regarding the tariffs US has imposed, it was agreed that Asean should join forces and act together because the combined population of this bloc is large and strong but it has still to be found out what solution each country has come up with. Malaysia will be hosting an Asean summit this year where cooperation will be sought to find solutions together.
The construction of a jointly funded second bridge and the upgrading of the existing bridge across Kolok river linking Rantau Panjang, Malaysia and Sungai Kolok, Thailand, are expected to be completed by 2028.
Malaysian Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi stated that the project includes the construction of a new 117.3-metre bridge parallel to the existing one, along with comprehensive upgrades to the original structure, The Star newspaper said.
“With an estimated cost of RM40.54mil (around 305 million baht), the project is jointly funded by both governments and is targeted for completion in 2028,” he said.
Earlier, Nanta and Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister- cum-Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit signed the Construction Agreement (CA) for the second bridge and the upgrading of the existing bridge.
Both Anwar Ibrahim and Paetongtarn witnessed the exchange of the agreement, marking the formal commencement of this major cross-border infrastructure project between Malaysia and Thailand.
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Top and first and second below: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing arriving at Rosewood Hotel for talks today, April 17, 2025.
Further below: Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra meets Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at Government House today, April 17, 2025. All photos: Amarin TV
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