Thailand and Malaysia strengthen bilateral ties in bid to quell insurgency

Thailand and Malaysia have strengthened bilateral ties in a bid to bring peace to Thailand’s deep south.

Defence Ministry spokesperson Lt Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich confirmed Malaysia will continue to support efforts to negotiate peace with insurgent groups in the deep South, principally the provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani which share borders with Malaysia.

Lt Gen Kongcheep revealed Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon had spoken with Malaysian Defence Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, to discuss the sensitive issue during a visit to Malaysia on Thursday.

Gen Prawit headed a delegation at the 55th meeting of the Thai-Malaysian General Border Committee in Kuala Lumpur with the aim of boosting border security and cooperation.

The 2 countries hailed the progress of the bilateral cooperation and discussed a number of wide-ranging topics at the meeting, including threats posed by militants holding dual citizenship and Malaysia’s pledge to support Thailand’s peace talks with insurgents in the 3 southernmost border provinces.

The construction of a road linking a new checkpoint in Songkhla’s Sadao district in southern Thailand with the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint in Malaysia, and dual efforts to maintain security along the Strait of Malacca, were also discussed at the meeting.

A communications centre has been set up along the border between the two countries where both countries will have joint border patrols.

You can read about the history of the southern insurgency HERE.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post