Anwar, Anutin hit diplomatic high notes to mask Malaysia-Thailand tensions

After a rendition of My Way and a saxophone accompaniment that felt closer to crooning uncles at a wedding party than high-stakes diplomacy, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his Thai counterpart Anutin Charnvirakul announced the serious business of squashing a damaging trade row and bringing greater security to the porous border between the nations.

The pair, long-standing friends, also share a love for public spectacle, with Anutin playing the classic song popularised by Frank Sinatra on the saxophone while Anwar gripped the microphone and reached for the chorus high notes at a lunch on Thursday.

The Thai leader then took his turn to sing the Elvis Presley ballad Can’t Help Falling in Love as the leaders exchanged effusive praise of their friendship.

Calling Anutin a “dear friend” – and a swift responder to his WhatsApp messages – the Malaysian host said the two days of summitry were “meetings among old friends”.

“Is there a problem? Yeah. We’re going to solve it … When? Next week,” he said as an example of the neighbours’ ability to resolve issues quickly.

Thai, Malaysian leaders perform Sinatra classic on sidelines of regional security talks

But behind the bonhomie, a weeks-long row over seafood and fish imports between the nations has vexed relations and severely damaged the Thai shrimp industry.