Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet and US president Donald Trump at the signing the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord on the sidelines of the 47th Asean Summit on Oct 26. (AFP pic)
JOHANNESBURG: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has rejected allegations of Malaysia’s “interference” in Thailand’s handling of its dispute with Cambodia.
This comes after protesters gathered in front of the Malaysian embassy in Bangkok yesterday, accusing Anwar, in his capacity as the Asean chair, of meddling in Thailand’s efforts to uphold its sovereignty.
Anwar said Malaysia merely facilitates talks for an amicable resolution to the conflict involving the two countries.
“We have facilitated two things. First, the chief of the armed forces met his counterparts. Second, the foreign ministry contacted their people.
“I also reached out to both prime ministers and asked whether they could talk. They then decided on the parameters and the issues. After that, US president Donald Trump also spoke to them,” he said at a press conference at the Sandton Hotel here.
Anwar said he then continued engaging with both countries. “So, it isn’t right for some quarters in Thailand – I don’t know the domestic politics – to suggest that we interfered. In no way did we interfere.
“The Thais have their legitimate interest (to uphold) and the competence to resolve their own issues. The same goes for the Cambodians,” he said.
Anwar said it took a lot of effort to agree on the parameters of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord signed at the recent 47th Asean Summit, but the final decisions rested with both Thailand and Cambodia.
“When I chaired the meeting (between the parties), I made that very clear,” he said.
According to Bangkok Post, the demonstrators were also preparing to visit the US embassy in the capital as they believed Washington had unfairly linked trade negotiations with Thailand’s sovereign right to protect its territory.
The protesters accused Anwar of overstepping his role as Asean chair by directing Thailand to halt its border operations, and also claimed that Malaysia and the US were attempting to exert undue influence over Thailand’s decisions.
On Nov 23, foreign minister Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia is prepared to host talks between Thailand and Cambodia in Malaysia – a neutral ground – following renewed tensions along their shared border.
He said while relations between the two countries had appeared positive after both countries’ leaders signed the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord, ties between the neighbouring countries have since deteriorated.
Cambodia and Thailand traded accusations following fresh clashes along their border on Nov 12 after Bangkok said it was pausing the implementation of the US-backed peace deal.
Mohamad said Thailand suspended the ceasefire after several of its soldiers were injured by landmines during border patrols. Thailand claimed the mines had been planted by Cambodian forces.
Cambodia’s defence ministry denied that it had laid new landmines and urged Thailand to avoid patrols in old minefield areas. It said it was committed to working with Bangkok in line with the October deal.
Asean observer teams in both Thailand and Cambodia, however, reported that the landmines were new landmines.
Proposal to co-sponsor reconstruction of Gaza conference
Anwar, who is on a working visit to South Africa to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit, said Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had suggested holding a conference on the reconstruction of Gaza and invited Malaysia to co-sponsor the event.
“I told him that I will obtain detailed information from the foreign ministry before committing an answer,” he said.
As for the reconstruction, Anwar said the preference is for competent Arab countries or neighbouring countries to handle it because they are in a better position to manage it more effectively and efficiently.
