BANGKOK: Malaysia and Thailand are to sign several memorandums of understanding during the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to the kingdom on Sept 8 and 9.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan said here Monday night the MoUs would be on dual citizenship, transnational crime, transportation and border fencing.
Prawit, who is also the defence minister and the minister responsible for security affairs, spoke to reporters upon his return from Malaysia where he had met Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Prawit said Malaysia was prepared to help Thailand to resolve the issue of (Malaysian-Thai) dual citizenship.
“They (Malaysia) also don’t want their citizens to carry dual citizenship as well,” he said.
There have been reports that some dual citizenship holders had been involved in cross-border crimes and militant activities in the restive southern Thailand provinces.
Prawit had said in Putrajaya, Malaysia, after having met Ahmad Zahid that the latter had asked Thailand to provide a list of dual citizenship holders, their thumbprints and biometric records.
On an allegation that one of the mobile phones used during the recent bombings in Thailand was from Malaysia, Prawit said the Malaysian government was extending cooperation to the probe on the matter.
“I just discussed the (mobile phone) matter with the Malaysians and now the police of the two countries are working on the issue,” he said.
Bomb and arson attacks took place in seven of Thailand’s provinces recently leaving four people dead and 35 injured, among them 10 foreign tourists.
Asked on the southern Thailand peace talks, Prawit said the talks would resume on Sept 2.
Thailand and MARA Patani, an umbrella body representing several militant groups in southern Thailand, have been engaged in informal peace talks facilitated by Malaysia. --BERNAMA