Thailand, Malaysia agree to bolster security cooperation

Asian Political News, Sept 15, 2003

BANGKOK, Sept. 9 Kyodo

Thailand and Malaysia agreed Tuesday to strengthen bilateral cooperation in combating terrorism and solving border problems, Thai Interior Minister Wan Muhamad Nor Mata said.

Wan Muhamad made the remarks to reporters after meeting with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who was on a two-day official visit to Bangkok from Monday.

The two countries plan to sign an agreement on security cooperation, sharing intelligence information and tightening security measures along the border to combat terrorism as well as drug trafficking, Wan Muhamad said.

Southeast Asian governments have heightened their vigilance against terrorism after last October's deadly bombings on Indonesia's resort island of Bali and last month's bombing at the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta.

Later last month, Thailand captured Southeast Asia's most-wanted terrorist suspect behind the blasts, Hambali, who is now in U.S. custody.

''We agreed that the terrorism situation has become a major threat that all countries have to be more alert (about) and coordinate with one another to fight against,'' Wan Muhamad said.

Abdullah, who is expected to take over from Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad before year's end, met in the evening with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to discuss tourism promotion as the two countries have agreed to launch a budget airline linking their popular tourist destinations and to loosen up visa regulations by having joint-visa issuance.