Malaysia Seeks To Deploy ASEAN Monitoring Team To Thailand-Cambodia Conflict Zone

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar said he has requested Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to formally communicate with the Prime Ministers of Thailand and Cambodia to allow Malaysian teams to enter conflict areas in both countries alongside the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT).

He said the AOT comprises representatives from ASEAN member states and will be deployed continuously on the ground to ensure and monitor that there are no violations of the ceasefire agreement.

“This is a heavy task because there is a border of about 840 kilometres that needs to be monitored. For this assignment, we are receiving logistical support from the United States,” he told reporters after being inducted into the Hall of Fame of the National Resilience College (MKN) here today.

He said following the conclusion of the General Border Committee (GBC), the parties involved had agreed under the ceasefire agreement to form an Interim Observer Team (IOT), comprising defence attachés from ASEAN countries.

Mohd Nizam said the team is led by Malaysia’s Defence Advisers in Bangkok and Phnom Penh.

“The first step for this team is to hold a briefing in Bangkok for 75 senior officers from Thailand on the measures that need to be taken.

“The same will be done in Phnom Penh tomorrow and the following day before they make visits to the conflict zones,” he said.

Mohd Nizam said the main mandate of the IOT is to ensure that the ceasefire is upheld and to investigate any reported violations from both sides.

Thailand and Cambodia had previously agreed to strictly observe the ceasefire along their shared border, with both sides maintaining their current troop positions and not increasing military strength.

In another development regarding the death of a Reserve Officers Training Unit (PALAPES) trainee at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Skudai, Mohd Nizam said a board of inquiry and post-mortem had been conducted, and the incident was part of a battle inoculation exercise.

“Our investigation is complete. Should the family wish to take further action, that is their right. We have nothing to hide. This incident has no connection whatsoever to bullying, ragging or similar acts,” he said.

Mohd Nizam stressed that since the beginning of this year, the Armed Forces have made it clear that there is no longer a culture of bullying in the service.

“What exists are training exercises that build the character of a soldier.

“We must realise that our assignments are not like those of ordinary people. The training and paths undertaken by military personnel are tougher and more challenging than those outside,” he said.

On Aug 11, it was reported that the mother of the late Syamsul Haris Shamsudin, 22, a PALAPES trainee at UTM, had called for a second post-mortem and was prepared for her son’s grave to be exhumed to determine the exact cause of death.

-- BERNAMA