Malaysia-Thailand Border Exercise 2014 To Include Immigration, Customs And Police

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (Bernama) -- The second Malaysia and Thailand armed forces border exercise to be held in 2014, will for the first time include Immigration, Customs and the police force, said Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) chief Zulkefli Mohd Zin (front, left). He said the exercise, to be organised by the Malaysian army, would be different since they planned to include other border agencies to make the exercise more comprehensive and integrated. "Thus, more understanding and collaboration can be achieved between the agencies of both countries," he told reporters after chairing the 28th Malaysia-Thailand High-Level Committee (HLC) meeting, here, Tuesday. The one-hour meeting was also attended by Zulkefli's Thai counterpart, General Thanasak Patimapragorn (front, right) and his delegation. Zulkefli said the first exercise held in April 2011 was only participated by the armed forces of both countries. He said both sides agreed to expand the joint border exercise to include other members of the Asean armed forces but had not decided when to launch it. The joint border excercise would combine military, disaster management and humanitarian assistance training, he added. He said the meeting also discussed the need to create a platform to resolve common issues towards maintaining peace and stability in the border areas between both countries. "The meeting today also deliberated and noted with satisfaction the progress of activities conducted by the HLC and Regional Border Committee (RBC)." He added that the meeting had fostered closer cooperation and coordination among the various stakeholders in solving border issues such as smuggling and other illegal activities. (photoBERNAMA) MALAYSIA