logo
SIA flights between Singapore-Cambodia, Singapore-Thailand, operating normally amid border dispute

SIA flights between Singapore-Cambodia, Singapore-Thailand, operating normally amid border dispute

The Star6 days ago
A spokesperson for the SIA Group said its top priority is the safety of customers and its employees. - ST
SINGAPORE: All Singapore Airlines (SIA) flights between Singapore and Cambodia, as well as between Singapore and Thailand, continue to operate normally despite a deadly border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.
A spokesperson for the SIA Group said its top priority is the safety of customers and its employees.
'We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will adjust our flights where necessary,' the spokesperson added.
A long-simmering border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia escalated to deadly violence on July 24 as their military forces clashed at multiple spots, leaving at least 12 people dead.
The flare-up is part of a broader disagreement with origins stretching back more than a century and involves parts of a region known as the Emerald Triangle, where the boundaries of Thailand, Cambodia and Laos meet.
The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia will attend mediation talks over their deadly border conflict in Malaysia on July 28 at 3pm local time at the Malaysian Prime Minister's Office in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim invited representatives from both countries. Malaysia, which chairs the regional grouping Asean, has informed the Thai government that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet would also be attending the talks, the statement said.
According to The Nation, flights between Thailand and Cambodia are continuing as normal, as Cambodia's declared restricted area is limited and does not significantly impact air traffic departing from Thailand. Alternative flight paths are also readily available. - The Straits Times/ANN
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Bravery under fire: Malbatt praised for professionalism in Lebanon
Bravery under fire: Malbatt praised for professionalism in Lebanon

New Straits Times

time7 minutes ago

  • New Straits Times

Bravery under fire: Malbatt praised for professionalism in Lebanon

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian peacekeepers in Lebanon have earned praise for their professionalism under fire when Israel attacked the country last year. Armed Forces Joint Forces Commander Lieutenant-General Datuk Zahani Zainal Abidin said he was never more proud of his men as he reflected on the Malaysian Battalion's (Malbatt) service in southern Lebanon under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil). "During the 'Northern Arrow' (by the Israeli Defence Forces) escalation in September 2024, our troops swiftly activated bunker drills and coordinated with Unifil to maintain zero casualties despite cross-border exchanges. "Two months later, in November, an Israeli airstrike caused collateral damage to a Unifil convoy, injuring several Malaysian peacekeepers. "Our rapid medical evacuation and continued mission focus drew praise from the UN and troop-contributing nations," Zahani said, noting that these incidents reinforced the importance of discipline and rapid response protocols. HOLDING THE LINE He said Malbatt operated under the mandate of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which called for monitoring the cessation of hostilities, supporting Lebanese armed forces deployments and ensuring its area of responsibility was free from hostile activity. Zahani said Malbatt had adopted stringent force-protection measures to safeguard personnel in a demanding threat environment. "Troops remain in fortified encampments and bunker drills are activated whenever cross-border hostilities spike. All patrols and logistical movements are suspended under Unifil directives to minimise exposure. "Regular checks on defensive structures and rapid-access shelters ensure immediate lockdown capability against indirect fire or drone incursions," Zahani said. He said under Unifil's mandate, Malbatt operated with strictly defensive rules of engagement. "Troops may return fire only if directly attacked. Offensive operations remain prohibited. We embed this principle through live-simulation, ensuring split-second decision-making under stress. "This clarity is vital in a theatre marked by multiple actors and asymmetrical threats." EYE ON THREATS, HEART WITH COMMUNITIES Zahani said intelligence and coordination were central to Malbatt's readiness. "The battalion's intelligence cell collated inputs from Unifil's Joint Operations Centre, the Lebanese armed forces and civilian informants. "Frequent 'snap' briefs are also held to update commanders on signs of Hizbollah escalation, Iranian drone flights, or suspected proxy-force staging areas." He said daily video-teleconferences with Unifil Sector West and adjacent battalions ensured rapid dissemination of new directives, including no-movement orders and escalation thresholds. While force protection was critical, Zahani added that civil-military engagement remained the cornerstone of Unifil's mandate. "Our engineers partner with municipal councils to repair schools and water systems in Marakah, Tibnin and surrounding villages. "Periodic town halls are also held to explain Unifil's peacekeeping objectives to residents, reducing the risk of agitators exploiting grievances," he said. Zahani added that this trust-building helped maintain early warning networks and blunt militia influence. MODERNISATION AND STRATEGIC READINESS In response to escalating risks along the Israel-Lebanon border, Zahani said the armed forces had modernised Malbatt's capabilities. "We replaced our ageing Condor armoured vehicles with 20 Turkish-made Panthera 4×4 platforms in 2023. These offer higher mobility, remote weapon station capability and improved troop protection. "Further upgrades are already in motion. By mid-2026, Malbatt will add 60 High-Mobility Light Tactical Vehicles (HMLTVs) to its fleet, enhancing agility and enabling rapid repositioning along the volatile Blue Line," Zahani said, referring to the 120km section of the southern Lebanese border that Unifil oversees. "These acquisitions are part of a broader plan to strengthen survivability and operational flexibility in one of the UN's most complex theatres." He said Malbatt had also introduced specialised capabilities, such as explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams and women's engagement modules. "These units not only address evolving operational requirements — from neutralising improvised explosive threats to fostering trust with local communities — but also reinforce the multidimensional nature of peacekeeping under the UN mandate." Training and readiness were also prioritised, Zahani said, as all personnel would go through an eight-week Force Integration Training (FIT) programme in Port Dickson before deploying to Lebanon with Malbatt. "This covers peacekeeping doctrine, cultural awareness, and scenario-based drills aligned with UN standards." He added that diplomatic coordination remained central to sustaining mission credibility. "Malaysia maintains a permanent liaison with the UN Department of Peace Operations (DPO) in New York to ensure real-time alignment of operational priorities with Malaysia's foreign policy principles — multilateralism, civilian protection and peaceful conflict resolution. "This strategic outlook was reinforced at the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference in Berlin in May, where Malaysia pledged to deploy an additional infantry battalion, EOD teams and police units for future missions. "This underscores Malaysia's long-term investment in robust, multidimensional peace operations and its continued role as a trusted troop-contributing nation," Zahani said.

Thai-Cambodia truce: Malaysia urged to turn focus to Myanmar crisis
Thai-Cambodia truce: Malaysia urged to turn focus to Myanmar crisis

Daily Express

time7 minutes ago

  • Daily Express

Thai-Cambodia truce: Malaysia urged to turn focus to Myanmar crisis

Published on: Sunday, August 03, 2025 Published on: Sun, Aug 03, 2025 Text Size: A school was destroyed in northern Cambodia during the five-day border conflict. PHNOM PENH: Following its successful mediation of the Cambodia-Thailand border truce, Malaysia may now seek to apply a similar conflict resolution model to one of Asean's most intractable challenges – the ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's assertive diplomacy is redefining Asean's role, transforming the bloc from a passive consensus-based forum into a more active regional player capable of navigating complex crises, according to political observers. In just four months as Asean chair, Anwar has secured two major diplomatic breakthroughs in addressing long-standing regional crises – moves that have drawn praise from the international community. Former Indian Ambassador to Thailand Anil Wadhwa noted that Anwar's proactive approach is challenging Asean's longstanding principle of non-interference - necessary to address the ongoing crises and issues like human trafficking and scams. 'By doing so, Malaysia is restoring Asean relevance in addressing the Myanmar crisis and promoting human security in the region. Malaysia will do well to ride on its success in the Thai-Cambodia conflict and try the Asean mediation between the military regime and the NUG and other disparate groups,' Anil told Bernama from New Delhi. Anil, who served as India's envoy to Thailand from 2011 to 2014, underscored the urgency for Asean to develop a workable political framework to address Myanmar's multi-layered crisis – one that has defied solutions for decades. Anwar, however, broke the bitter diplomatic deadlock in mid-April. He met Myanmar's State Administration Council Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok and also consulted the National Unity Government (NUG) representatives to allow the flow of humanitarian aid into earthquake-hit regions – a rare moment of cooperation between the two rival entities. Most recently, Anwar hosted a high stakes meeting in Putrajaya between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, successfully defusing tensions along the two countries' shared border. The ceasefire, widely seen as a major Asean achievement, prevented a broader military escalation and ensured the safety of thousands of civilians. The 77-year-old leader's diplomatic masterstrokes brought the much-needed calm to the border communities on both sides and helped save thousands of lives. Otherwise, it could have turned into a costly military confrontation, destabilising the region. Still, Myanmar's situation presents a more complex challenge. The country's civil war involves some 20 ethnic armed groups, many of whom have been fighting for autonomy or independence since 1948. With over 135 recognised ethnic groups and competing visions of governance, the path to peace is steep. 'Asean needs leadership – and Anwar is providing that,' remarked Kavi Chongkittavorn, a senior fellow at Chulalongkorn University's Institute of Security and International Studies in Bangkok. 'He is making Asean more relevant under Malaysia's leadership, Timor-Leste is accepted into Asean, and to solve the Myanmar crisis, Asean needs the leadership too. 'Now Asean can engage superpowers, especially the US and China and others more effectively. Malaysia announced the new Vision 2045 that envisages the bloc as future-ready. Anwar is doing exactly that. It will take time to further rebrand Asean,' he told Bernama. He also highlighted the significance of the Thai-Cambodia ceasefire, calling it a milestone, especially since Thailand had previously rejected Asean mediation during similar border clashes in 2008 and 2011. While the world's focus shifted to the border tussle in recent days, Myanmar continues to grapple with its domestic predicaments from economic hardship, natural calamities, raging civil war in various states and internally displaced people. The military coup on February 1, 2021, has displaced at least three million people, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation. 'The only way to solve the crisis in Myanmar is for the military government and the NUG constituents to come together to discuss power sharing, revenue sharing formula and open humanitarian corridors. The people of Myanmar need to be freed of their burden,' said Anil. The military government recently lifted its four-year-old state of emergency and has announced plans to hold national elections in December. Whether Asean, under Malaysia's leadership, can facilitate meaningful dialogue in Myanmar remains to be seen. But as Anwar continues to chart a more assertive course, political analysts agree: Asean may be inching closer to becoming a truly effective regional actor. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

Singapore reviewing Malaysia's request to start cross-border bus services from JB at 4am
Singapore reviewing Malaysia's request to start cross-border bus services from JB at 4am

The Star

time37 minutes ago

  • The Star

Singapore reviewing Malaysia's request to start cross-border bus services from JB at 4am

Malaysia's Land Public Transport Agency plans to start operating cross-border bus services earlier. - The Star SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Singapore bus operators are reviewing a request from Malaysia to start operating cross-border bus services from Johor Bahru an hour earlier. LTA told The Straits Times on July 29 that it had received a request from Malaysia's Land Public Transport Agency on June 17 to start operating cross-border bus services earlier and that it is 'working with our bus operators to review the request'. These operators are public bus companies SBS Transit (SBST) and SMRT and some private bus operators. Malaysian news daily The Star said on July 24 that the Land Public Transport Agency is in talks with LTA to ask Singapore's bus operators to start services at 4am, instead of 5am. According to The Star, Johor state Works, Transportation, Infrastructure and Communication Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said long queues of Singapore-bound passengers would form at the Johor Bahru Checkpoint at 4am, so he hopes that an earlier start time would tackle the pre-dawn rush. SBST currently operates service 160 from Johor Bahru Checkpoint, with departures starting at 5am on weekdays and 5.50am on weekends or public holidays. It also runs service 170 between Larkin Terminal in Johor Bahru and Queen Street Terminal near Jalan Besar, with departures starting from 5.20am on weekdays and 5.30am on weekends or public holidays. Service 170X – a supplementary service that plies only a section of service 170's route – is also run by SBST, with the first bus leaving Johor Bahru at 8.28am on weekdays. Additionally, SMRT operates service 950 across the Causeway from Johor Bahru Checkpoint towards the Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange. No information on the starting times for its Singapore-bound service is publicly available, but the Johor Bahru-bound service departs from Woodlands at 5.30am every day. Other private bus operators, including Singapore-Johore Express, Ridewell Travel and Transtar Travel, ply routes from Larkin Bus Terminal and Johor Bahru Checkpoint to Singapore. ST has contacted all public and private bus operators for comment. SMRT and SBST directed these queries to LTA. Associate Professor Walter Theseira, a transport economist at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, said it may be more costly and logistically challenging to operate cross-border bus services outside the usual scheduled hours. This is because public bus operators face labour constraints, he added. It would be more difficult to offer services at earlier start times as drivers may not want to accept these shifts, and it would affect manpower planning for the rest of the day. And these operational constraints may lead to higher fares, noted Prof Theseira, since buses operating outside scheduled hours are typically expected to cover a larger share of costs from fares – as in the case of the now-defunct late-night bus services, which charged higher fares of above S$4 (US$3.10). He noted that there may also be concerns from Singaporeans about providing more subsidies so that public transport operators can start their cross-border services earlier because they would primarily benefit Malaysians working in Singapore. While private operators can also adjust the operating hours of such services, he said they must be able to make profits to offer extended services. Malaysians who cross the Causeway daily to get to work in Singapore, such as Eerman Dzulkurnai, 39, said he would be happy to have potentially more cross-border bus services to use as he typically gets to Johor Bahru Checkpoint by around 4am to avoid getting stuck in traffic and be able to arrive at his workplace in Pioneer by 9am. The information technology support officer noted that by 6am, there are usually snaking queues, and it can take travellers one hour to squeeze onto a bus to Singapore. He added that early on the morning of July 21, when bus drivers under Malaysian bus operator Causeway Link went on strike, he was left with no choice but to walk 30 minutes across the Causeway. The upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link is set to run from 6am to midnight daily when it starts passenger service by the end of 2026. - The Straits Times/ANN

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store