REMARKS BY YAB PRIME MINISTER: JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE DURING OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND TO MALAYSIA

Disember 16, 2024Disember 16, 2024Ucapan

REMARKS BY

YAB DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM

PRIME MINISTER

AT

JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE

DURING OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND TO MALAYSIA

16 DECEMBER 2024 (MONDAY)

PUTRAJAYA

Assalamualaikum and a very good morning.

Dear Excellency, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, great family friend and a friend of Malaysia;

Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.

Well, it is difficult to give a formal diplomatic welcome to Prime Minister Paetongtarn because she happens to be a great family friend and we actually welcome her to 2nd home in Malaysia. Off course we are delighted to have her, although she has been in office for just four months but she has done remarkably well with the team and I am extremely pleased because she takes Malaysia as an important friend and economic both political, cultural relationship with key ministers and I have reciprocated by the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister and a very large contingent of Members of the Cabinet.

Now 7th Annual Consultation (AC) is timely; first taking stock of excellent bilateral relations following through our excellent with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who I have agreed to appoint as my personal advisor as chairman of ASEAN with a team of members from Asian countries, an informal setup and thank you for agreeing to this because we need the benefit of experience of such statesmen.

And secondly, goes to state that the continued better relations from the time we were working well with the former Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin even exchanges here in Bangkok, Phuket, Bukit Kayu Hitam and Rantau Panjang which is spectacular in terms of our record of bilateral relations, which has not happened before. So, the progress, certainly huge progress in terms of the road alignment, ICQS Bukit Kayu Hitam, CIQ Sadao and the construction of the second bridge linking Rantau Panjang and Sungai Kolok in Thailand.

And this would of course enhance our collaboration and even settling many issues, water management and containing in terms of flood mitigation Sungai Kelantan, Sungai Golok and the areas in the South of Thailand and North Malaya, particularly in Kelantan and Terengganu. We also agreed to support efforts to bolster in the intra ASEAN trade and joint investments both Ministers Investments and Trade has agreed we have the target of $30 billion by 2027.

We can be seen to be very ambitious, but looking at the huge economic potential in Thailand and also Malaysia, there’s some things that we need to work. We are committed, as I’ve already assured repeatedly to leaders in Thailand in the past and now, that we are, we will do whatever is necessary to ensure that the dialogue process with the southern border promises of Thailand, materialize and to then resolve to a joint comprehensive plan towards a peace. And as agreed this peace with development, so they will benefit. First, to ensure peace. Second, you see development both in South Thailand and North Malaya because the provinces in the north require additional focus investments similarly with the first provinces in the South.

We have common position on South China Sea perspective enclose whilst maintaining excellent relations with all countries. And what is also pertinent is our position on Myanmar, while we are committed to fully implement the Five-Point Consensus (5PC), we are taking measures through dialogues informally at different levels to ensure that Myanmar do participate and bring back Myanmar to the full of ASEAN.

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