PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will continue engaging Cambodia and Thailand to achieve a ceasefire in the ongoing border clashes, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said that although both leaders had initially agreed to a ceasefire on Saturday (July 25), fighting still persisted along the disputed border.
Anwar said he has told Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan to contact his Thai and Cambodian counterparts for talks.
“Maybe, I will directly contact them to at least stop the shooting and continue the negotiations,” said Anwar.
Anwar said that during his initial call to the two leaders, they had thanked him for facilitating talks.
“Even though they agreed to it, there is still shooting at the border,” added Anwar.
Anwar, on Friday (July 25), stated that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to a ceasefire, but requested some time as their troops were already stationed at the border and needed time to withdraw.
Both countries have accused each other of starting the military clashes and have downgraded their diplomatic relations since Wednesday (July 23).
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have been escalating since May 28, following a deadly incident in the Preah Vihear area that claimed the life of a Cambodian soldier.
The two countries have been at odds for decades over various undermarketed points along their 817km-long border.
