Malaysian PM Congratulates Thailand's New PM Anutin Charnvirakul

JAKARTA - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim congratulated Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on his new mandate to lead Thailand.

"I warmly congratulate my friend, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, on his new mandate to lead Thailand," Anwar Ibrahim said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday, March 19, as reported by ANTARA.

Anwar said that as close neighbors and ASEAN partners, Malaysia and Thailand have a deep interest in each other's success.

"Our fate is like two rivers that come from the same spring," said Anwar.

Anwar expressed his expectation for a commitment to continue to maintain close working relations with Prime Minister Anutin and strengthen the Malaysia-Thailand partnership, especially in the areas of trade and investment, border cooperation, and wider regional stability.

Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party was re-elected as Thailand's prime minister (PM), Thursday (19/3), according to the Thai PBS state television station.

Thailand's House of Representatives re-elected Anutin (59) after he received support from around 293 members of parliament in the 500-member lower house. His closest rival got 119 votes, while 86 parliamentarians abstained.