MALAYSIA WILLING TO HELP MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN SOUTHERN THAILAND

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is willing to provide assistance
to the Muslim community in southern Thailand in the interest of restoring peace
and harmony in the restive region, said Minister in the Prime Minister's
Department Maj Gen (Rtd) Jamil Khir Baharom.

He said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's visit to Thailand to
meet Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva recently was very significant towards
this end besides enhancing the existing neighbourly ties between the two
countries.

"The existence of a business network on the Malaysia/Thailand border proves
the communities in both countries need each other, as such, political and
economic stability and security is important in the region so as not to affect
Malaysia and other Asean countries," he told reporters after opening the Asian
Haj Route Symposium at the Tengku Abdul Rahman Memorial here Tuesday.

The two-day symposium is organised by the National Archives and the Islamic
Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation( ISESCO) .

On the symposium, which is being attended by some 300 participants from
ISESCO member countries, Jamil Khir said it served as an important platform for
the exchange of ideas among the members particularly in relation to haj matters.

-- BERNAMA