Flag incident fails to sour Malaysia-Thailand ties
By SHARIFAH MAHSINAH ABDULLAH | [email protected]
ALERT: Security beefed up following attempts to incite tension in southern provinces
Malaysian Armed Forces chief Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zain assessing border activities and security in Munduk, Rantau Panjang, during his visit to areas near the Malaysia-Thailand border yesterday. Pic by Adnan Mohamad
RANTAU PANJANG: THE close ties between Malaysia and Thailand is unaffected despite attempts by certain groups to create friction by hoisting Malaysian flags on Merdeka Day in the troubled southern provinces of Thailand.
Armed Forces chief Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zain said yesterday the attempts had failed to damage the good relationship enjoyed by the two Asean neighbours. "However, the Malaysian government views the matter seriously as it might affect national security," he said.
He said the Malaysian armed forces had also conveyed to its Thai counterpart that security measures were also tightened following the incident.
"Also, all enforcement agencies have been told to beef up checks against illegal elements or movements from entering our country," he said after visiting areas near the Malaysia-Thailand border here.
Zulkifeli was commenting on the Aug 31 incident where Thai flags were burned and Malaysian flags were displayed prominently in the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat. The flag incident also coincided with bomb attacks, which left six Thai soldiers injured.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein was reported to have said the ministry would work closely with its Thai counterpart to investigate a bomb attack where the Jalur Gemilang was hoisted by suspected insurgents in several Thai provinces.
On insurgency in the deep south, Zulkifeli said Malaysia had never interfered in it and, in fact, was monitoring the movement of suspected militants if they tried to sneak into the country illegally.
"We have not received any request from our Thai counterpart to help track down the militants, but their movements will pose a threat to our country if we do not monitor them closely."
On his visit yesterday, Zulkifeli said it was aimed at getting a closer view of border activities and assessing the level of security there.
"I am satisfied. In terms of security, areas along Sungai Golok here are under the control of officers from various enforcement agencies, including the police." Zulkifeli later visited Sungai Golok and its vicinities.
Present were Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order director Datuk Salleh Md Rashid, Royal Malaysian Navy deputy chief Vice-Admiral Datuk Mohammed Noordin Ali and Kelantan police chief Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman.
