Malaysia denies harboring southern Thailand separatists

Malaysia firmly denies harboring separatist groups fueling the conflict in Southern Thailand, according to Defense Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. He emphasized that Malaysia will not permit its territory to serve as a sanctuary, hiding place, or planning hub for groups that reject the peace process in the southern Thai region.

Instead, Nordin stated that Malaysia is committed to collaborating with Thai authorities to prevent any such activities. "We want to emphasize that Malaysia will not allow its territory to be used as a refuge or hiding place by any party using force and rejecting the peace process in southern Thailand," he said during a press conference.

Following recent incidents in southern Thailand, the Malaysian armed forces will enhance border control and monitoring along the Malaysia-Thailand frontier. This measure aims to thwart any movements that could jeopardize national security and prevent the conflict from escalating uncontrollably. Border units will manage official entry and exit points, while the armed forces will patrol forested areas.

The Malaysian government is taking the developments in southern Thailand seriously, with discussions held during a recent Cabinet meeting. Malaysia remains committed to supporting peace efforts in the region, including its role as a facilitator in the peace dialogue process. The country has proposed several military officials to the Prime Minister for consideration as new facilitators, following the completion of the previous facilitator's term.

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We want to emphasize that Malaysia will not allow its territory to be used as a refuge or hiding place by any party using force and rejecting the peace process in southern Thailand.