Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar stated that if requested by Thailand and Cambodia, Malaysia is willing to deploy troops to station at the Thailand-Cambodia border.
Anwar said that on the very night he reached a consensus with the two countries' leaders, the Chief of Malaysia's Armed Forces had already set off to the border to discuss supervision arrangements with relevant parties.
"At present, we have clearly expressed Malaysia's readiness to dispatch troops. I have also discussed this with all ASEAN leaders, and they agree that if the two countries request, support can be provided... We have demonstrated full preparedness and are awaiting a decision on August 7th."
Anwar stated this today (the 5th) during the Prime Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat, in response to an additional question from the opposition leader and Padang Rengas MP Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, who asked whether Malaysia is prepared to deploy troops to the Thai-Cambodian border.
Hamzah Zainudin noted that Malaysia had previously sent peacekeeping troops to Congo and Bosnia, so deploying troops is not an issue.
However, Anwar stated that whether to deploy troops to the Thailand-Cambodia border to maintain border security will be left for ASEAN member countries to decide. Currently, the border situation is very sensitive and tense, but it remains under control.
"This is not easy, especially when killings and shootings have occurred. It requires time to ease the tense mood and anger."
"Presently, we have satellite assistance for monitoring, and they have also agreed for Malaysia's defense attaché to coordinate this matter, while ASEAN countries' defense attachés conduct remote supervision."
"Is garrisoning troops necessary? This will be decided later. Whether permanent deployment is needed will also be decided by ASEAN countries at a later stage."
He stated that currently, the two countries have only requested Malaysia to coordinate.
In addition, in response to an additional question by GPS Batang Sadong MP Rodiyah Sapiee, who asked whether the government plans to ensure no recurrence of the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict through the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) or ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC),
Currently, the atmosphere at the borders between Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia remains under control, and Malaysia has not yet decided whether to station troops at the border.
Responding to Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan's question on whether Malaysia will use ASEAN mechanisms to resolve other issues, such as the Rakhine crisis in Myanmar which has caused large numbers of refugees to flow into Malaysia, the Prime Minister said that Myanmar is still willing to cooperate with Malaysia within the ASEAN framework.
The Prime Minister said he has already met both the current government's and the government-in-exile's leaders to pursue three objectives: achieving a ceasefire, permitting humanitarian aid, and promoting dialogue to stop military attacks on areas such as Rakhine and the Rohingya community.
He said, the current situation has clearly improved. Malaysia has set up a field hospital in Myanmar, which has been operating for several months; the conditions are an immediate ceasefire and no renewed attacks.
"This helps to ease the longstanding oppression of the Rohingya. For the first time in months, they are feeling relatively safe, though there are still some conflicts, but not as severe as before."
He said that issues regarding Myanmar are still at an early stage. Malaysia's Foreign Minister, as well as the Thai and Indonesian foreign ministers might visit Myanmar at the end of this month to continue peace efforts.
As for the southern Thailand issue, the Prime Minister stated that Malaysia has elevated the negotiations to the highest level between Malaysia and Thailand, but they have not yet agreed to use the ASEAN framework.
"Southern Philippines is similar. The Thai Prime Minister and the Philippine President both agreed to keep Malaysia informed about developments to help resolve the crisis in southern Thailand and southern Philippines."