PUTRAJAYA: The appointment of Thaksin Shinawatra as an advisor to Malaysia's Asean chairmanship is a decision within the prime minister's rights, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
However, the former prime minister noted that there are many other potential candidates who could have been appointed by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"Whatever Anwar chooses to do, it's his right," Mahathir said.
"I don't know why he chose Thaksin, but there are other options. Thaksin also has his own issues (legal cases)."
He declined to comment further, saying that it is Anwar's prerogative to make the selection.
Yesterday, Anwar announced Thaksin's appointment to the informal advisory group for Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship in 2025.
Anwar explained that Malaysia needs statesmen like Thaksin to offer expertise and insights on regional issues.
Thaksin, who served as Thailand's prime minister from 2001 to 2006, made a dramatic return from self-exile in August 2023 to avoid jail time after his ousting in a 2006 military coup.
After serving six months in hospital detention for health reasons, Thaksin was released on parole in February.
Following his return, Thaksin was sentenced to eight years in prison for abuse of power and conflicts of interest. His sentence was commuted to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn in September 2023.