On resolving the conflicts near the Thai-Malaysian border, Thaksin’s record in the Deep South speaks for itself. He is best remembered for dismissing insurgents as “petty criminals” and acting on flawed intelligence during his tenure as prime minister, leading to a series of hardline policies that sharply escalated tensions between insurgent groups and the kingdom’s security forces.
In October 2024, under his daughter’s government, the statute of limitations expired for those responsible for the Tak Bai massacre, allowing them to walk free without accountability. Four months later, in a historic visit to Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, Thaksin apologised for his past actions, but his words may ring hollow as long as his daughter’s government makes no effort to seek justice for the victims’ families.
RISK OF ERODING MALAYSIA’S CREDIBILITY
If Anwar’s plan is for Malaysia to play a more active role in mediating peace talks in Thailand’s Deep South, involving or associating with Thaksin is not just ill-advised – it risks further eroding Malaysia’s credibility in a process where its neutrality is already questionable to begin with.
Some analysts note that Malaysia has nothing to lose from a low-intensity conflict: It prevents Thailand from exerting full control of the Deep South, while avoiding the direct spillover of refugees heading southward into Malaysia.
The Anwar-Thaksin deal only makes sense for Thaksin: It gives him a way back into regional diplomacy and a chance to rehabilitate his image after forging a toxic alliance that tarnished his political brand. Most importantly, the deal provides Thaksin a convenient excuse to get court approval to travel abroad if things go south back home.
Napon Jatusripitak is a Visiting Fellow and Acting Coordinator of the Thailand Studies Programme, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. This commentary first appeared on the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute’s blog, Fulcrum.
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