REELING from the deemed lopsided US-Malaysia reciprocal tariff agreement (ART), the opposition faction was quick to pour scorn on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his interference as peacemaker in the Thai-Cambodia border dispute following last Saturday’s (Nov 22) unprecedented protest at the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok.
Orchestrated by the “Unite the Land to Protect Sovereignty” group, this was the second time in less than a month that PMX has been chastised by the Thai opposition faction for his role to resolve conflict in the Indochina region.
Recall that earlier on Nov 3, former head of the Royal Thai Army Radio and Television General A. Rangsi Kitiyansap went on air over the country’s One31 digital TV station accusing PMX of being an “American spy”, “traitor” and “hidden enemy”, among others.
This was promptly capitalised hy Perikatan Nasonal (PN) lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali who echoed Rangsi’s claims of the peace treaty having incorporated a joint venture agreement on trade tariffs and rare earth elements (REE), thus paving the way for the US to enter and interfere with Thailand’s economic sovereignty.
In the latest incident, the Bangkok Post reported that protesters gathered outside the Malaysian Embassy to voice their displeasure on Saturday (Nov 22) before proceeding to the US Embassy to demand that both countries cease interfering with Thailand’s sovereignty and how the kingdom deal with Cambodia.
PMX’s rebuttal
Again opposition-slant Malaysians seized the moment to troll PMX despite his justification that Malaysia did not intervene in the Thailand-Cambodia conflict but only facilitated dialogue that led to a ceasefire agreement inked in Kuala Lumpur in the presences of US president Donald Trunp on Oct 26.
Speaking during a media conference at the end of the first day of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg on Sunday (Nov 23), PMX said Malaysia was only showing concern as a neighbouring country without giving any instructions or dictate a solution to the two countries.
Regardless, political foes with Rafique who is also the Pejuang information chief again taking the lead, see that as a golden opportunity to lambast/undermine PMX for his deemed misdeed.
Interestingly, people who are familiar with Thai politics see this as synonymous with the tendency of Thais to mount protest against anything that don’t seem to work out their way.
“From a historical perspective and as a foreigner watching from afar, I see Thai folks protesting at almost every development within their country,” observed digital creator Brent Farris who is somehow familiar with Malaysian and Thai politics.
“There’ll always be protestors in Thailand who oppose something. It seems to be an activity they relish. As we say, democracy is wonderful and can be sloppy at times.
“The freedom to express and address one’s government with grievances is an important hallmark of a free people.”
Added the American foodie with penchant for Malaysian food:
So, to the Thai people, I say ‘enjoy’ the protest. But direct your frustration to those who signed the deal and not those that created the conditions for peace and brought the parties to the table”.
Personally, I am proud of the work of the Malaysian PM and the US President in helping to bring peace to the region. The peace deal signed by the Thai leader should be honoured.
If the Thai leadership feels the peace accord was signed under duress, that’s a failure of the signatories and not the leaders bringing the parties to the table.” – Nov 25, 2025
