KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is coordinating efforts to ease tensions between Thailand and Cambodia in a bid to halt all hostilities along the disputed borders, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic).
The Prime Minister said both countries requested a brief postponement of the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting, scheduled for Tuesday (Dec 16), to allow the situation to stabilise.
"We are still coordinating and monitoring efforts. They have asked for a slight postponement of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting scheduled on Tuesday. So we are postponing to get things in order. But we are still appealing to stop the fighting. This is very critical. I am in touch with them virtually on a daily basis," he told reporters after launching a book at the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies here on Monday (Dec 15).
On Dec 14, Thailand's military announced it was considering blocking fuel exports to Cambodia as fighting spread to coastal areas of a disputed border region, two days after US President Donald Trump said the sides had agreed to a new ceasefire.
The two nations have resorted to arms several times this year, following the death of a Cambodian soldier in a May skirmish, reigniting a conflict that has displaced hundreds of thousands on both sides of the border.
Asked about the proposed fuel blockade by Thailand, Anwar said negotiations are ongoing.
"We are still negotiating to cool things down. It is very difficult," said the Prime Minister.
Anwar previously proposed deploying an Asean Observer Team led by Malaysia’s Chief of Defence Forces to monitor the situation. The mission would also use US-provided satellite imagery to help verify whether both sides are honouring the ceasefire.
Field data and satellite tracking results would be compiled and presented to the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Dec 16, giving member states evidence-based and neutral information about developments.
