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| Southeast Asia |
| Malaysia denies harbouring separatists |
| 2006-06-05 |
| Kota Baharu - Malaysia has again denied that Kelantan state, which borders on southern Thailand, is the hotbed for Thai separatists and rebels. Official Bernama news agency quoted Eighth Infantry Brigade Commander Datuk Mahdi Yusof, whose unit operates in the area, as saying he had not even received evidence of separatists from southern Thailand hiding in Kelantan - a charge frequently levelled from Thailand. "I can assure you there is no such thing. Our security checks at the Malaysia-Thailand border are very tight," Bernama quoted the officer as saying. Bernama asked him to comment on recent Thai media reports that pro-separatist Muslims were taking refuge in Kelantan to plot their anti-government activities. Mahdi said security forces manning the checkpoints and carrying out border patrols were also tasked to monitor smuggling activities and check unlawful entry of illegal immigrants from Thailand. He said the Malaysian and Thailand security forces worked closely to tackle potential security threats. "We liase closely with our Thai counterparts to share intelligence information. We are in constant contact with them to exchange information on security threats ," he added. |
| Posted by:ryuge |