Zulkifli (fourth left) and his Thailand counterpart Tanchaiyan shake hands during the 35th Malaysia-Thailand HLC meeting. — Bernama photo
BANGKOK: The Malaysia-Thailand High Level Committee (HLC) which was established 35 years ago has move forward to become a mature cooperation between two neighbouring countries especially in resolving border issues.
According to Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) chief Gen Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin the cooperation initiated by security agencies of both countries under the committee has achieved good results.
“The HLC has move forward to become a mature cooperation between the two countries.
“We have made initiatives together, including intelligence sharing and others but obviously there is still a lot of work to be done,” he told the media after attending the 35th Malaysia-Thailand HLC meeting here yesterday.
One of the most pressing issue faced by the two Southeast Asian countries, he said, involved dangers posed by extremist group Daesh (Islamic State) where both countries were committed to do more to defeat the threat.
Zulkifli, who assumed the post last June, said Malaysia and Thailand need to do a lot together not only to tackle Daesh but also other problems along the common border, including related to transnational crimes.
Also present during the one-day HLC meeting was his Thai counterpart, Gen Tanchaiyan Srisuwan and other high ranking officers from the armed forces, police and other security agencies of both nations.
“Malaysia and Thailand enjoy a good relationship and the way forward is to bring (the bilateral and security relationship) to a higher level,” said Zulkifli.
Meanwhile, Tanchaiyan told the media that the meeting discussed progress achieved by six sub-committees set up by HLC.
He said the progress achieved by the sub-committees showed the close ties existing between the two countries which had made the achievements possible. — Bernama