Malaysia-Thailand To Enhance Cooperation On Matters Involving Waters Of Both Countries - Shahidan

PASIR PUTEH (Kelantan, Malaysia), Jan 3 (Bernama) -- Cooperation between Malaysia and Thailand on matters involving the waters of both countries would be further enhanced from time to time for everyone's benefit. Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Shahidan Kassim said cooperation may not only involve the exchange of relevant information on cross-border crime, but also on the economic and search efforts of drowning cases. "Cooperation before this has paid off handsomely when law enforcement agencies in Thailand helped us find two teenage boys who drowned at Pantai Tok Bali on Sunday. "They helped us after receiving a request from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) during the search and rescue operation last week," he told reporters after visiting the family of Rafar Mamat, 53, father of Amir Azhar, 13, and Anizan Ramli, 50, father of Ahmad Haziem, 14, who lost their respective sons in the drowning incident at Pantai Tok Bali (Beach) here last Sunday. The body of Amir was found at 9.30pm on Friday while Ahmad Haziem's body was found at 10.30am Satruday about five kilometers apart. Local residents and the Royal Thai Police, found both bodies at the Pantai Belawang beach in Narathiwat, Southern Thailand. Shahidan said the government also appreciated the role of about 200 members from various agencies who had participated in the search and rescue operation which covered an area of 670 kilometres. Amir's remains was buried at the Wakaf Berangan Muslim cemetery while Ahmad Haziem was laid to rest at the Marbol Muslim cemetery here at 1.30am Sunday morning. -- BERNAMA