MALAYSIAN PM ON A HISTORIC VISIT TO THAILAND'S SOUTHERN PROVINCE

By D.Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- Four years after hitting the lowest point in
their otherwise excellent bilateral ties, Malaysia and Thailand are on the brink
of an historic milestone as their top leaders meet in the kingdom on Tuesday.


On Aug 30, 2005, 131 Thai Muslims from the restive southern Thai provinces
fled to Malaysia to seek refuge in Kelantan, which led to a diplomatic row
between the two countries.

It led to accusations that Kuala Lumpur was meddling in the domestic affairs
of the its neighbour which was battling separatists in the Muslim-majority
provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.

The situation almost turned ugly at one stage after former prime minister
Dr Mahathir Mohamad suggested that Thailand grant autonomy to the three
Muslim-majority provinces, a sensitive issue in the kingdom which considered the
concept as similar to granting independence.

But four years later, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his
Malaysian counterpart, Najib Razak, who both came to power within the last 12
months, are scheduled to visit Narathiwat on Dec 9, the very province that the
refugees left due to security fear.

Today, all the 131 Thais are back in their homeland, both capitals are
enjoying the best of ties and more importantly, are working together to find a
peaceful solution the conflict that had claimed over 3,500 lives since 2005.

In fact, Najib told two Thai dailies last October that Bangkok should
consider granting autonomy to the restive provinces, but, unlike in 2005, the
reaction here was mixed, with both pros and cons.

Najib is leading a high-powered delegation, which includes nine ministers,
to the Fourth Annual Consultation at the Government House on Tuesday, and it
will also be his first official trip to Thailand since assuming the premiership
on April 3.

"This is unpredecented as nine minister are coming. Both prime ministers
have good rapport and enjoy personal ties," Malaysian ambassador to Thailand
Husni Zai Yaacob said in an interview here.

Husni said this was an historical visit as it would be the first time that a
prime minister of Malaysia was visiting the southern border provinces of
Thailand.

He said the existing ties could be further strengthened with the visit,
while demonstrating Malaysia's commitment to continue assisting Thailand to
solve the the southern conflict through the existing 3E Programmes (education,
entreprenuership and employment).

Meanwhile, the Thai Foreign Ministry said the consultation would allow both
prime ministers to discuss ways to broaden and deepen the bilateral relations as
well as cooperation between both countries for mutual benefit.

"The visit of Prime Minister Najib will mark another significant chapter in
the longstanding relations between the two countries and peoples," the ministry
said.

Malaysia is Thailand's fourth largest trading partner while Thailand is
Malaysia's fifth, with total trade between the two countries amounting to
US$19.6 billion in 2008.

In 2008, 1.8 million Malaysians visited Thailand while 1.49 million Thai
tourists visited Malaysia.

A ministry official said there was no fix agenda for the meeting, but the
focus would be on security cooperation, especially security along the border and
those related to transboundary issues like human and drug trafficking as well as
maritime.

Besides that, both sides are likely to update the progress in talks over
future cooperation in the field of higher education, youth and sports, as well
as on the Singapore-Kunming railway project, halal industry and linking the Thai
Southern Development with Malaysia's North and East Coast Corridors.

He said there are also plans to build a new bridge linking Tak Bai in
Narathiwat and Pengkalan Kubur in in northeast state of Kelantan, as well as to
expand the bridge linking Sungai Golok and Rantau Panjang.

The Thai Foreign Ministry said that during their visit to Narathiwat,
Abhisit and Najib would co-officiate at the renaming ceremony of the second
bridge across Sungai Golok to "Friendship Bridge" linking Ban Buketa, Narathiwat
and Bukit Bunga, Kelantan.

They would also witness the signing of the agreement on the management,
maintenance and usage of the Friendship Bridge.

Najib and Abhisit would also visit the Att Arkiah Islamiah Institute,
which has over 4,000 students and a co-corriculum in both Islamic studies and
modern subjects.
-- BERNAMA