KUALA LUMPUR: US President Donald Trump is looking forward to witnessing the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
Among the terms in the ceasefire deal is for Thailand and Cambodia to remove landmines and military machinery along the disputed borders, he said.
“Ensure the retreat of war machinery from the borders. These are among the terms and we hope both sides can agree to this during the Asean Summit.”
Mohamad said Trump will be in Malaysia for the Asean Summit on Oct 26.
“He is looking forward to the Thai-Cambodia ceasefire agreement to be signed,” Mohamad told reporters during a Concorde Club meeting yesterday.
The Concorde Club is an informal group of editors and senior journalists meeting with politicians and key policymakers.
Previous guests of the Concorde Club, led by Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, included Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah.
According to Mohamad, there is a proposal for the United States and Malaysia to act as facilitators to oversee a ceasefire agreement that will be named the Kuala Lumpur Declaration or the Kuala Lumpur Accord.
“We are proposing for Malaysia and the US to act as facilitators to oversee a broader ceasefire agreement there between Thailand and Malaysia. We want the violence to stop and for it (ceasefire) to be overseen by an Asean observers team,” Mohamad said.
“If possible, we are hoping for the KL Accord or KL Declaration to be signed to ensure that these two neighbouring countries can be at peace,” he added.
On Sunday, a four-party consultation involving Malaysia, the United States, Thailand and Cambodia took place. It was chaired by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Thailand and Cambodia are engaging in talks over disputes along their 817km border.
In July, over 40 people were killed when tensions between Thailand and Cambodia erupted into the deadliest military clashes in decades.
Meanwhile, Mohamad said the upcoming Asean Summit will see about 16,000 police officers from across the country being stationed in Kuala Lumpur beginning Oct 23.
“This is to facilitate traffic flow in KL,” he said.
According to him, KLCC will be in traffic lockdown during the Asean Summit period from Oct 26 to 28.
“The police will not take security matters lightly because many world leaders will be in attendance,” he said, referring to Brazil, South Africa and others.
“So, I am asking for public cooperation to ensure Malaysia’s success as the Asean chairman this year,” he added.
Mohamad also said Cyprus and Finland will attend the Asean Summit to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South-East Asia (TAC) to become an Asean sectoral partner.
“Many of them are interested to be Asean dialogue partners and among the terms is for them to be a sectoral partner first. So, they must sign the TAC,” said Mohamad.
Among those who have confirmed their attendance at the 47th Asean Summit are Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China Premier Li Qiang. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attendance has yet to be confirmed.
A total of 72 schools in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor have been allowed to implement online classes. Civil servants working within a 25km radius from Kuala Lumpur are permitted to work from home during the period.
