Ical comments on Thai PM’s style in official meeting

Golkar Party chairman Aburizal "Ical" Bakrie commented on the fashion and hairstyle of Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in an official meeting with the country's first female prime minister in Bangkok on Wednesday.

"You are like a star in Asia today. We have a number of Asian female leaders in the past and today we have you. Even the Indonesian media writes a lot about the dresses you wear and your hairstyle," Ical told Yingluck, who simply smiled.

Dozens of people present at the meeting, including Golkar executives and members of the Thai parliament, laughed politely.

It appeared that Ical had made the comment to break the ice with Yingluck, who was the most senior official he met on his two-day visit to the country.

Officials, however, then asked local and Indonesian journalists to leave the room so that the meeting could be held behind closed doors.