WHEN Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made an official visit to Thailand earlier this week (April 17-18), the trip was meant to underscore Malaysia’s commitment to regional diplomacy, trade and its ASEAN chairmanship.
Yet an unforeseen controversy raged in our northern neighbouring country over the choice of a music in an official video on PMX’s visit which was posted on his official social media account.
Editor’s Note: This could be the replacement video soundtrack that encapsulates PMX’s official visit to Thailand which culminated in a meeting with his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra – the youngest Thai PM at 39 and only the second woman to hold the position (after her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra).
It is learnt that the video was uploaded again using the song “Love at Sundown”, a song composed by His Majesty King Rama IX.
As reported by Thai PBS World, the English-language arm of Thailand’s public broadcaster, the video featured a soundtrack Om Pra Mah Pood which roughly translates to “Swear on Buddha Before You Speak”.
It’s a popular Thai ballad often associated with dishonesty and broken promises. In a diplomatic context, particularly when showcasing a bilateral visit, such a song could be interpreted as tone-deaf at best – or unintentionally insulting at worst.
According to Thai PBS World, the video had racked up over 30,000 views before it was taken down.
It’s easy to see how this may have happened: perhaps PMX’s social media team wanted a local tune to add colour and cultural flair without realising the song’s nuanced connotation. A good intention.
But the episode points to a larger issue – the lack of cultural literacy and vetting in our leadership’s media machinery. An honest mistake?
In the realm of diplomacy, optics are everything. Even music choices and wardrobe must account for cultural sensitivities. And while this may seem like a harmless blunder, it underscores how a careless detail can risk overshadowing the substance of a state visit.
Thai PBS World, the outlet that reported the incident, is no tabloid. It is part of the Thai Public Broadcasting Service, a reputable independent media organisation even if it is funded by “sin taxes” on alcohol and tobacco.
The portal caters to an international audience and regularly reports on ASEAN affairs, making its observations hard to dismiss as sensationalism or bad faith.
At a time when Malaysia chairs ASEAN, we cannot afford for any messages to be lost in public furore over the wrong soundtrack.
Coincidentally, the incident came to the fore on the heels of a domestic uproar over a flag mix-up in a Sin Chew Daily infographic, a reminder that in politics, symbolism travels fast and missteps can snowball into national or diplomatic embarrassment. – April 20, 2025
