MALAYSIA WILLING TO HELP THAILAND SET UP ISLAMIC BANK

BACHOK (Malaysia), Dec 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is willing to send
financial and banking experts to help Thailand set up an Islamic bank in the
three provinces in the restive south for the benefit of the Muslim residents.

Deputy Finance Minister Senator Dr Awang Adek Hussein said the experts could
be sent at any time if the Thai authorities requested their assistance.

"We will do anything to help the Muslims, especially those in the three
provinces bordering Malaysia," he told reporters after meeting the villagers of
Kampung Daramain, Perupuk in this town in northeast state of Kelantan, Saturday.

He said the proposal was part of Prime Minsiter Najib Razak's promise to his
Thai counterpart, Abhisit Vejjajiva, when he visited the Thai southern region on
Thursday.

Dr Awang Adek said the bank could be set up in a month or two.

He said peace in the three provinces -- Patani, Narathiwat and Yala -- must
be speeded up for the benefit of the Muslims who formed the majority of the
residents there.

If peace could be established, it would provide more economic and investment
opportunities to benefit the residents on both sides of the border.

He said the government was also considering extending aid in the form of
Malay language and Islamic religious teachers for lower secondary schools and
centres of higher learning there.
-- BERNAMA