By NNN-Bernama
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysia and Thailand must acknowledge the need to share and exchange information in the most coordinated manner to fight new challenges along their common borders, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Thursday.
The deputy prime minister said Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok must also be committed and determined in enhancing cooperation among the law enforcement agencies of the two countries.
This was especially so in preventing and combating transnational crimes and international terrorism, which not only affected the image but also seemed to be menacing the security and economic development along the border areas, he said.
Najib, who is also defence minister, said this in his opening address at the 47th Malaysia-Thailand’s General Border Committee (GBC) meeting here which he is co-chairing with Thai Defence Minister General Boonrawd Somtas.
The one-day meeting was to review the progress of the activities conducted by the high-level committee, and also to review matters of mutual interest.
The Malaysian delegates to the meeting include Chief of Defence Forces Jen Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan.
Najib said security challenges in the region had become more non-traditional in nature and countries were being confronted with conflicts induced by religion and matters of an ethnic nature.
“In the past, (and) we still do, we have focused much of our resources in addressing threats resulting from drugs and arma smuggling and illegal movement of people from one regional state to another.
“Nearer to home, the security situation at our border region could potentially jeopardise the stability of Malaysia vis a vis its relations with its neighbours,” he said.
The deputy prime minister said that this was evident from the growing unlawful and illegal activities detected at the common border areas.
Najib said activities such as human trafficking from third countries, smuggling of goods, drug trafficking and arms smuggling continued to take place.
“Therefore, it is very important to maintain and enhance the existing close cooperation and consultation of our two countries’ security forces and relevant agencies,” he said.
He also said that while the Malaysian government empathised with the people of Thailand over the protracted violence in the southern provinces, Malaysia wished to reaffirm its position that “this is an internal problem of Thailand and Malaysia respects the cardinal principle of non-inteference in the internal affairs of its neighbour.
“I believe that all matters that concern our two countries should be carefully and expeditiously managed in the interest of our common security and stability, and they should be resolved amicably through negotiation and diplomatic process in the spirit of the GBC,” he said.
Najib said Malaysia’s commitment of assistance to Thailand was conveyed to the Thai government by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi during his trip to Phuket last April.
“So, in this context, whatever policy we have adopted must be in tandem with our sincere efforts to cooperate with you to help overcome this problem and it must not, and should not, be misconstrued otherwise,” he said.