KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed deep concern about fresh armed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, and urged the two countries to exercise maximum restraint along their common border.
“I offer my condolences to the families of those who have been killed or injured. The renewed fighting risks unravelling the careful work that has gone into stabilising relations between the two neighbours.
“Thailand and Cambodia are close partners of Malaysia and key members of ASEAN. We urge both sides to exercise maximum restraint, maintain open channels of communication and make full use of the mechanisms in place,” the Prime Minister wrote on Facebook, adding that Malaysia is willing to assist in restoring calm and avert further incidents.
It was earlier reported that Thailand has launched air strikes along its border with Cambodia, after clashes around two areas in the easternmost province of Ubon Ratchathani killed one Thai soldier and injured four.
Commenting further, Anwar called for a halt in fighting to safeguard civilians, and a return to a diplomatic path supported by international law and ASEAN’s neighbouring spirit.
In October, Thailand and Cambodia signed a joint declaration, dubbed the “KL Peace Accord”, to formally end border hostilities and restore peace along their disputed frontier.
The agreement, signed by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet, was witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim — in his role as Asean Chair — and United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
Thailand and Cambodia have long been at odds over sections of their 817-kilometre border, with tensions escalating into a military confrontation on July 24.— December 8, 2025