KL Expects Good Ties With Bangkok To Continue Under New Thai Leadership: Ambassador 

By Kenny Teng Khoon Hock

BANGKOK, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s ambassador to Thailand, Datuk Jojie Samuel, said he expects policies and the overarching relationship between Malaysia and Thailand to continue under new Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Jojie said this includes the implementation of joint development projects, such as the socio-economic connectivity projects in southern Thailand. 

He said while political changes, such as those occurring in Thailand, are common in any functioning democracy, he hoped that the new prime minister and her Cabinet “would look at the whole bilateral relations with Malaysia”.

“I think most and all of them will definitely look at ways to enhance the bilateral relations," Jojie told Bernama.

He also recalled on the recent meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and former premier Srettha Thavisin in Kelantan and Narathiwat just a few weeks ago.

“They have given us assurance that the policies will remain the same. Projects and activities will be carried on. Let’s hope that the good relations between the two nations will continue,” Jojie said.

For the record, Malaysia is Thailand's largest trading partner in ASEAN. Malaysia's total trade with Thailand stood at US$24.88 billion (RM113.37 billion) in 2023.

On Friday, Paetongtarn, the leader of the Pheu Thai Party, was elected as the new prime minister after securing 319 out of 500 votes in a parliamentary voting.

Paetongtarn, the youngest daughter of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra replaced Srettha Thavisin, who was stripped of his premiership by the Thai Constitutional Court on Aug 14 over violation in appointing a minister with criminal conviction to his Cabinet in April this year.

The 37-year-old political neophyte is the youngest prime minister in Thai history and only the second female to head the government after her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra.

-- BERNAMA