KL vows to maintain border cooperation

Published on October 25, 2005 - Malaysia yesterday promised to continue cooperating with Thailand to patrol the border in a “well-coordinated manner”.

Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said the Malaysian and Thai security forces were fully aware of the two countries’ boundaries and the scope of coordination and patrol along the borders.

“We keep the Thai security forces informed of our movements and they also keep us informed of theirs,” he said.

On Friday, Najib said extra security personnel had been deployed along the border following reports that several “outsiders” were detected monitoring the activities of Malaysian soldiers in Perak.

He told the local media that men in black balaclavas, who he suspected belonged to the Thai military, had recently climbed trees on the border to spy on Malaysian troops.

In his speech, Najib warned Malaysians and the Malaysian security forces to ensure that peace prevailed in the country.

He said yesterday that Malaysia did not have any intention to get embroiled in Thailand’s affairs.

In Bangkok, Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said Justice Minister Police General Chidchai Vanasatidya would accompany him to Kuala Lumpur on Friday to try and solve the ongoing misunderstanding.

Meanwhile, in Yala’s Than To district, an armed group attacked soldiers who were on a routine patrol and injured two of them before escaping.

In Sa Kaew province, police arrested a Cambodian for the possession of fake passports.

Police said Massa Ree, who is 26 and a Cambodian Muslim, was found in possession of three passports, all of which featured his photograph alongside false names.

“The passports showed that he has travelled in and out of Malaysia’s Kelantan State many times. We will detain him for interrogation to find out why he has three passports and what his business is in Kelantan,” police said.

The Star/The Nation