Speaking to reporters after his audience with the Sultan yesterday, Surayud said Bolkiah had urged him to maintain his current course and continue to pursue understanding with residents of the three Malay-speaking southernmost provinces.

Surayud briefed the Sultan about his two recent trips to the South, where he met various groups including student and religious leaders.

The Sultan also relayed a message to His Majesty the King wishing him a quick recovery from recent surgery.

Yesterday's trip to Brunei and Singapore was part of a tour Surayud is taking of neighbouring countries to reassure them that all is well after the military coup on September 19 that ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Surayud was accompanied on the trip by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula and Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram.

In Singapore, Surayud met his counterpart Lee Hsien Loong as well as Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister who currently holds the position of Minister Mentor to the Cabinet.

Analysts had previously said that a visit to Singapore would be difficult because of the city-state's role in Thailand's political crisis, which culminated in Thaksin's ouster.

In January, Thaksin's family sold its 49-per-cent stake in telecom giant Shin Corp to state-linked Singapore investment company Temasek Holdings for US$1.9 billion (Bt76 billion at the exchange rate of the time) without paying any tax.

The sale triggered months of street protests demanding Thaksin's resignation for alleged abuse of power and corruption, which eventually led to the bloodless coup against the billionaire businessman.