Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim quashed claims that Malaysia had interfered in the recent diplomatic tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, saying it merely facilitated dialogues for an amicable solution.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar stated that Malaysia's involvement was based purely on its position as a close and trusted neighbour, and at no point did Putrajaya dictate how Bangkok and Phnom Penh should resolve their issues. He emphasized that Malaysia was concerned as a neighbor but did not prescribe solutions for the settlement.
Anwar, who is also the Chair for ASEAN 2025, explained that Malaysia's role was limited to enabling key officials from both sides to communicate. This included facilitating discussions between the Armed Forces chiefs and encouraging contact between their respective Foreign Ministers. He mentioned that he only asked both prime ministers to talk, letting them set their own parameters and decide on the issues. Additionally, President Donald Trump had also engaged with both parties during this process.
Anwar highlighted that Malaysia's efforts were guided by the long-standing trust both countries have in Putrajaya as a friendly partner that could help open lines of communication when needed. He refuted any portrayal of Malaysia's actions as interference, stressing that the country respects Thailand and Cambodia's sovereignty and their right to resolve their own matters.
He noted that the issue might come up during the visit of his Thai counterpart, Anutin Charnvirakul, to Malaysia. Anwar anticipated that the Thai leader might discuss border protection, and he expressed readiness to facilitate if necessary, emphasizing the importance of peace.
In other developments, Anwar mentioned his meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Minh Chnh, who expressed a desire to accelerate the ASEAN Power Grid from Vietnam to Singapore. He also shared that Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong reminded him that their upcoming bilateral meeting should focus on resolving outstanding issues.