Malaysia, Thailand defence chiefs here to discuss bilateral issues

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(On the front row) Sabri (second right) and Srisuwan (second left) in a group photo with delegates from Thailand. Also seen are Zaki (right) and Azizan (left).

(On the front row) Sabri (second right) and Srisuwan (second left) in a group photo with delegates from Thailand. Also seen are Zaki (right) and Azizan (left).

KUCHING: Malaysia and Thailand defence and security leaders converged here yesterday for a Senior Staff Talk to review progress, discuss key issues and explore challenges to the region’s security and peace.

This annual gathering, hosted in Kuching for the first time, brought together senior officials from the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces (RMAF) and Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF).

Among the attendees were RMAF Chief of Staff Lt General Dato’ Sri Sabri Adam, Army Field Commander West Lt Gen Datuk Azizan Md Delin, Army Field Commander East Lt Gen Datuk Mohd Zaki Mokhtar and Chief of Staff to the RTAF Defence chief, General Tarnchaiyan Srisuwan.

Sabri highlighted that the Malaysia-Thailand Senior Staff Talk will deliberate on issues, explore challenges, exchange information and share experiences pertaining to security of land, air and water.

“More importantly, we will also bring up matters yet to be included in the agenda of the main committees and hopefully find solutions at working levels,” he told a press conference at the gathering held in Pullman Hotel here.

The main agenda, he said, was to look into and establish possible co-operations with their Thai counterparts such as examining the mechanism for military assistance, disaster relief as well as ways to overcome security challenges notably involving terror threat around the world.

“We are actually heading this team comprising of officers from the Regional Border Committee (RBC), General Border Committee (GBC), High Level Committee (HLC) and many others to deliberate and discuss security matter within and outside the agenda of the main committees,” he added.

In addition, Sabri disclosed that Air Force and Navy senior officers were among the delegates here and they were expected to interact and exchange views and knowledge especially on the latest approach to security that could be adopted in respective environment.

“In Malaysia, we are equipped and have the experience on how to deal with security matters like insurgency which is still relevant to be adopted at present. This is something we could share and learn from our friends from Thailand,” he elaborated.

Besides the meeting, delegates from Thailand also enjoyed a short tour around Kuching which Sabri pointed out was important so they could better understand the people and culture of Sarawak.

“I think our guest is honoured and happy to be here as this is his first visit to Kuching. I think we gave him a good impression of a nice and clean city and friendly people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zaki emphasised that the gathering was not intended only on fostering closer ties between Malaysia and Thailand but a golden opportunity for Thailand counterpart to get to know better about Sabah and Sarawak.