Planned Prabowo-Anwar meeting in Malaysia's Langkawi postponed

Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto's planned bilateral meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been postponed as he promptly returned to Jakarta following his Egypt visit.

As stated on his social media account on Monday, Anwar explained that the meeting planned to take place in Langkawi in the northern Malaysian state of Kedah was cancelled due to Prabowo suddenly contracting an illness.

"My family and I have been in Langkawi Island today to receive the visit of my best friend, President Prabowo Subianto. However, last night, he asked to postpone the meeting due to fever," Anwar stated.

He expressed hope that Prabowo's health would improve so they could resume the planned bilateral meeting soon.

In the same statement, Anwar also brought up his upcoming meeting with former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra on December 26 to discuss ASEAN matters and other strategic issues.

Thaksin has been designated as Anwar's informal advisor for the duration of Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025. Anwar clarified that Thaksin will have no involvement in the ASEAN structure.

The Malaysian PM stated on Saturday (December 21) that he would discuss bilateral relations and ASEAN issues during the now-cancelled meeting with Prabowo. According to sources, the meeting was planned to be held behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Secretariat, through its statement on Monday, stated that Prabowo proceeded to hold a limited meeting on Indonesia's preparations for the 2024 Christmas and 2025 New Year holidays with his aides right after landing in Jakarta.

The president convened with the state officials in the VVIP room of Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase, where he discussed government strategies to maintain order and security amid the surge in public mobility during the year-end holiday period.