Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called on Thailand and Cambodia to bring all issues related to their border conflict to the negotiation table through their Joint Border Committee (JBC).
Anwar said in his Facebook post yesterday that he made the point in a phone call with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul during which he also invited the newly-appointed Thai leader to visit Malaysia.
“The visit is one of those to strengthen the good relations between the two neighbouring countries,” he said.
The phone call was made as tensions on the Thai-Cambodian border have flared up after Thai anti-riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at Cambodian civilians protesting against the erection of barbed wire fencing along the shared border in Sa Kaeo province on Wednesday.
Thai authorities insisted the Cambodians intruded into Thai territory.
Anwar said he discussed with Anutin the latest developments on the Thailand-Cambodia border.
“I emphasize that it is important for all parties to maintain order and not allow any differences to create unnecessary tension,” he said.
“I am calling for all issues that arise to be brought to the negotiation table through the Joint Border Committee (JBC). Malaysia believes that the spirit of dialogue, diplomacy and understanding is the best way to guarantee regional peace and stability,” he said.
JBC is one of the bilateral mechanisms designed to resolve border issues between Thailand and Cambodia.
As the rotating ASEAN chairman this year, Anwar has been trying to play a mediating role in the Thai-Cambodian border conflict.
He hosted a meeting between the Thai and Cambodian leaders in Kuala Lumpur in late July during which they agreed to a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet said he called on Anwar to make an urgent intervention to de-escalate mounting border tensions after violent clashes broke out in Banteay Meanchey province.
In a statement, Hun Manet said he held a telephone call with Anwar, who is also the current ASEAN Chair, on the evening of September 18, 2025, in relation to the “concerning developments” in the clashes.
“As the situation today continues to evolve in a worrying manner, I requested His Excellency Anwar Ibrahim to urgently intervene to de-escalate tensions between the Thai armed forces and Cambodian civilians,” Hun Manet said.
He added that this should be achieved by “maintaining the status quo, avoiding any further provocations or actions that could escalate the conflict, and awaiting a resolution of the border issue from the Joint Boundary Commission in the near future.”
