KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 — Dialogue and diplomacy must continue to be prioritised in addressing the Cambodia-Thailand border issue to ensure regional peace and stability, said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
He said the approach is important to ensure that bilateral issues do not undermine the spirit of togetherness and unity within Asean, which serves as a platform for member states to build trust, seek common ground and manage differences constructively.
Johari said the border issue was among the matters discussed during his meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on the sidelines of the Second Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC-2) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
“Developments along the Cambodia-Thailand border were also among the matters given attention. Malaysia understands Cambodia’s concerns over the current situation, including its impact on residents in the affected areas.
“In this regard, I stressed that dialogue and diplomacy must always be given space in addressing any differences among Asean member states,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Johari is in the Cambodian capital to attend the conference, jointly hosted by Cambodia’s National Assembly and Senate from August 26 to 28.
He said Malaysia would continue to support efforts to bring all parties back to the negotiating table, with priority given to ensuring that regional peace and stability are preserved.
During the meeting, both sides also exchanged views on strengthening Malaysia-Cambodia ties, covering parliamentary cooperation, the economy, human capital development and youth empowerment.
He said youth from both countries should be given more opportunities to build ties through exchange programmes and participation in the economic, social and inter-parliamentary spheres.
He said the potential to expand cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) was also discussed, including via skills training, institutional exchanges and industry collaboration.
At the same time, Johari also expressed appreciation for the Cambodian government’s role in facilitating the operations and investments of Malaysian companies in the country, thereby providing a conducive environment for the Malaysian business community.
He added that Malaysia is committed to continuing close cooperation with Cambodia to strengthen the long-standing bilateral ties for the sake of peace, stability and shared prosperity of the Asean region. — Bernama
