'Fantastic job' - Trump praised Malaysia's mediation in Thai-Cambodian conflict, says Anwar
Anwar said the compliment was conveyed during a phone call with the United States president on Thursday following Malaysia's success in bringing the Thai and Cambodian prime ministers to agree on a ceasefire after weeks of tension.
"He said: 'Thank you Prime Minister Anwar for the fantastic job in bringing both Cambodian and Thai prime ministers together and securing a lasting peace'.
"Three times he used the word fantastic," Anwar said at Felda Settlers' Day and Rural Entrepreneurs Carnival at Mitec here today.
He said Malaysia's efforts were the result of coordinated work between the Foreign Ministry, the armed forces and the country's leadership, which enabled the two neighbouring nations to agree to halt hostilities.
"Alhamdulillah, a ceasefire was achieved. Malaysia's name is now being spoken of from Washington to London, with people talking about our success in uniting Asean and achieving peace," he said.
Anwar said he had remained in contact with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to monitor the situation.
"I am still keeping in touch with Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia. I asked him about the situation and he said, 'Thank you very much prime minister, there is no fighting.'
"But he asked for Malaysia's help to facilitate further talks," he added.
He said that the Cambodian and Thai defence ministers were scheduled to come to Kuala Lumpur on Monday to discuss the next step towards securing lasting peace.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
7 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
Malay Mail
7 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Cambodia asks Malaysia to help free 18 soldiers held by Thailand after border clash
PHNOM PENH, Aug 3 — Cambodia is seeking Malaysia's assistance as Asean Chair to help secure the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers detained by Thailand. Ministry of National Defence spokesperson Lieutenant General Maly Socheata said the Thai military had confirmed that the soldiers are safe and that the government is in talks for their release. The Cambodian government continues to push Thailand to expedite a safe return of the country's troops, she said. 'Cambodia has also suggested to Malaysia, the Asean chief, please intervene to urge Thailand to quickly return our 18 troops to us. 'The Ministry of National Defence and the army of Cambodia will never leave any of its members behind, under any circumstances,' said Maly, according to the Information Ministry's Facebook page. The ministry's request came days before a General Border Committee (GBC) meeting is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur next week. The two neighbouring countries have a long history of trying to impose sovereignty along their 817-kilometre shared border in northern Cambodia. The latest conflict began with a brief skirmish between Thai and Cambodian troops on May 28, which escalated into armed clashes on July 24. Twenty Cambodian soldiers were held captive by the Thai army following the clashes. On Friday, Thailand released two injured Cambodian soldiers. The fighting temporarily ceased on Monday, July 28, after Cambodia and Thailand agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire during a special meeting in Putrajaya hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. — Bernama
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Two soldiers repatriated
Gentle outreach: Assistant Military Attache Colonel Eiji Umetani talking to people next to foreign military attaches from major powers and Asean member countries and Thai military personnel, as they visit a shelter in Sisaket province following a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand. — Reuters THE nation welcomed the return of two wounded soldiers who had been captured by the Thai army after the two sides had already implemented a ceasefire to end five days of combat over competing territorial claims. Their repatriation comes amid accusations and bickering over whether either side had targeted civilians and breached the laws of war, and sharp nationalist feuding on social media. The rest of a 20-member group of Cambodian soldiers captured on Tuesday in one of the disputed pockets of land over which the two sides were fighting remain in Thai hands, and Cambodian officials are demanding their release. The two countries have given differing accounts of the circumstances of the capture. Cambodian officials say their soldiers approached the Thai position with friendly intentions to offer post-fighting greetings, while Thai officials said the Cambodians appeared to have hostile intent and entered what Thailand considers its territory, so were taken prisoner. Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata confirmed that the two wounded soldiers had been handed over at a border checkpoint between Thailand's Surin province and Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province, and urged the Thai side to promptly repatriate the remaining personnel in accordance with 'international humanitarian law.' Thailand says it has been following international legal procedures and was holding the remaining 18 soldiers until it could investigate their actions. A statement issued Friday by Thailand's 2nd Army Region identified the two repatriated Cambodian soldiers as a sergeant with a broken arm and a gash on his hip, and a second lieutenant who appeared to be suffering from battle fatigue and needed care from his family. It said both men had taken an oath not to engage in further hostilities against Thailand. Neither man nor the others in Thai custody have been made available for interviews by neutral third parties. There were other peaceful activities on Friday on both sides of the border as both countries staged tours of the former battle areas for foreign diplomats and other observers, highlighting damage allegedly caused by the other side. The two countries continue to accuse each other of having violated the laws of war with attacks on civilians and the illegal use of weapons. More than three dozen people, civilian and soldiers, were killed in the fighting, which in addition to infantry battles included artillery duels and the firing of truck-mounted rockets by Cambodia, to which Thailand responded with air strikes. More than 260,000 people in total were displaced from their homes. Under the terms of the ceasefire, military representatives of both sides are supposed to meet next week to iron out details to avoid further clashes. However, the talks are not supposed to cover the competing territorial claims that are at the heart of decades-long tension between the two countries. Partisans of both sides are also waging a war of words online, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of also carrying out malicious hacking. — AP
