Malaysia to assist dialogue process for peace in Southern Thailand

Malaysia will do everything possible to assist the smooth functioning of the Joint Working Group, a body set up to convene dialogue process to find peace in the border provinces of southern Thailand.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Malaysia felt honoured that both signatories to the General Consensus Document, the treaty to pave the way for a dialogue process for peace in the provinces, agreed to invite Malaysia to be facilitator to move the dialogue process forward.

He said the dialogue proper would take place in the Joint Working Group which the Thai Government had agreed to convene under the leadership of Thailand's National Security Council secretary-general Lt Gen Pharadorn Phatthanatabutr.

"Malaysia will appoint, in the immediate future, a suitable senior official of the government to act as facilitator.

"Let us all hope and pray that the series of dialogue which will begin in two weeks' time in Kuala Lumpur, will bring the desired result," said Najib in a joint press conference with Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra at the Perdana Putra building here Thursday.

Najib said concrete efforts would be undertaken to promote greater synergy between economic and development corridors along the border.

Earlier, the two prime ministers signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the Proposed Development by Private Sector in the Joint Border Area, before witnessing another two signing ceremonies.

The MoU on Cooperation in the Fields of Youth and Sports was signed by Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Thai Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Ubumrung, while the agreement on Border Crossing was signed by Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Thailand's Minister of Interior Charupong Ruangsuwan.

Meanwhile, the MoU on Malaysia-Thailand Business Council Secretariat saw the Exchange of Document between Senior Vice-President of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli) Max Say and the Federation of Thai Industries chairman Payungsak Chartsutipol.

Najib said Malaysia and Thailand would facilitate private sector-driven development projects in the border area in industries such as oil and gas, power and alternative energy, rubber and palm oil, heavy industries and tourism, as well as the promotion of small and medium-size enterprises.

On trade and investment, he said the figures were indeed, very encouraging, with bilateral trade between the two countries being on an upward trend since 2000, with the 2012 figures showing USD 24 billion.