MELAKA: Newly-appointed Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has assured Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of his government’s commitment to maintaining peace with its neighbour, Cambodia.
The Prime Minister said this was conveyed to him during a phone conversation with Anutin earlier this week.
“He remains committed to ensuring that peace between Cambodia and Thailand will be fully respected and honoured,” Anwar said in his opening address at the 19th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) yesterday.
He said Asean had been supportive of regional peace efforts.
“Asean has been extremely kind to endorse our endeavours,” he said.
Anutin, who leads the Bhumjaithai Party, officially became Thailand’s 32nd prime minister on Sunday after receiving royal endorsement, marking a new chapter in the country’s political leadership.
In July, Anwar, in his capacity as the current Asean Chair, hosted a special meeting in Putrajaya with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and then-Thai acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai.
Following the meeting, Anwar announced that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire amid escalating tensions along their disputed border.
Earlier, Anwar said building trust and a shared commitment among Asean nations is vital to ensuring peace and prosperity in the region.
Anwar also stressed that unity had enabled the regional grouping to remain peaceful and economically dynamic despite global uncertainties.
“Without trust, without sharing information, we cannot strengthen the bonds we already have.
“Our collective security requires us to build resilience together through information sharing, coordinated enforcement and harmonised legal frameworks,” he said.
Anwar said that for more than six decades, Asean had safeguarded stability by relying on dialogue, cooperation and consensus.
“Asean is unique. I am not aware of any other region that has established this level of mutual trust,” he added.
He also reminded delegates that peace should not be seen as merely the absence of conflict but as the presence of justice, stability and prosperity.
“We must remain accountable for our words and actions so that the trust of our people is preserved and strengthened,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Home Ministry said this year’s AMMTC carries added significance as the Asean Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime 2016–2025 draws to a close, with a new roadmap for 2026-2035 expected to be adopted.
Among the initiatives are the establishment of a Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime working group on anti-money laundering, the endorsement of an Asean Border Management Cooperation Roadmap and the Melaka Declaration on Combating Transnational Crime.
Ministers are also expected to adopt declarations on cross-border law enforcement, money laundering prevention and innovative approaches such as sports programmes to counter extremism.
The meeting will also support Timor-Leste’s Asean membership process.
