Malaysia’s PM Anwar says Thailand, Cambodia keen to end conflict

Sign up now: Get insights on the biggest stories in Malaysia

Foreign ministers from South-east Asia meeting next week will seek to convince both countries that peace is imperative, said Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim.

PHOTO: EPA

PUTRAJAYA – Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he’s been in contact with the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia, both of whom have said they want to resolve

their border clashes

Foreign ministers from South-east Asia meeting next week will seek to convince both countries that peace is imperative, Datuk Seri Anwar told reporters on Dec 17 in Malaysia’s administrative capital of Putrajaya.

The foreign ministers’ meeting had been scheduled for this week, but was postponed to Dec 22 following a request from both Thailand and Cambodia.

Mr Anwar, the 2025 chair of ASEAN, has been at the centre of efforts to mediate a ceasefire between the two countries, reinforced by a peace accord

signed before US President Donald Trump in Kuala Lumpur

The ceasefire was short-lived, though, with clashes along the 800km border resuming earlier in December, followed by Thai airstrikes on Cambodian military targets. More than half a million people

have fled the area

Mr Anwar also addressed domestic issues in Dec 17’s briefing. He said the government can’t be too dependent on dividend payouts from Petronas as the state energy giant’s contribution to official revenue will fall with the slump in oil prices. Malaysia will need new business entities to generate more revenues for the government, he said.

Petronas is expected to contribute RM20 billion (S$6.3 billion)