Chalermchai forges closer army ties on KL visit
Thailand has agreed to boost military ties with Malaysia after army chief Chalermchai Sittisat led a military delegation to Malaysia on a two-day visit.
Gen Chalermchai met Malaysia’s new army chief Dato’ Sri Zulkiple Bin Haji Kassim and other senior Malaysian military officers during his visit, which ended yesterday.
Fourth Army chief Lt Gen Piyawat Nakwanich was among the senior Thai army officer delegation.
The two sides agreed military ties have improved considerably in terms of joint military training, and exchanges of visits by senior army personnel of the two countries.
Bilateral cooperation under various regional frameworks has also contributed to peace along the border, the army commander said.
Gen Chalermchai yesterday said he was willing to support efforts to tackle violence in the deep South and the smuggling of contraband goods, based on the outcomes of meetings under the frameworks of the General Border Committee, the High Level Committee and the Regional Border Committee.
Gen Chalermchai also congratulated the new Malaysian army chief on his appointment to his country’s top army job.
He thanked the Malaysian government for acting as a facilitator in the peace talks process between Thailand and separatist groups in the deep South.
Gen Chalermchai said the Malaysian army commander has confirmed his commitment to cooperating with the Thai army to solving a range of problems along the Thai-Malaysian border.
The two sides have also agreed to further boost their military ties and bilateral activities such as through joint border patrols, as well as increasing direct line contact between their unit commanders operating in the field, the army chief said.
Gen Chalermchai said he has invited the Malaysian army chief to pay an official visit to Thailand, adding he also wanted the two sides to exchange information more often as part of efforts to prevent and combat terrorism.
Gen Chalermchai yesterday also visited the Malaysian Army’s 10th Parachute Brigade at Terendak Camp in Malacca where a demonstration of the unit’s abilities was held.
There, the Malaysian army chief also presented Gen Chalermchai with a maroon beret and an honorary parachutist badge. The beret is usually given to soldiers who undergo the unit’s basic aerial logistics training course.
The Malaysian Army’s 10th Parachute Brigade is recognised for its efficient highaltitude tactical operations and rapid deployment to all kinds of terrain to support the Malaysian army’s operations and to respond to emergencies that threaten national interests.
Solders at the unit undergo training courses including developing the skills needed for tactical operations, such as sharp shooting, sniping, landmine warfare, aerial logistics, air attack, high-altitude infiltration, and amphibious operations.