AKP Phnom Penh, September 19, 2025 --

H.E. Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia and current ASEAN Chair, held separate telephone conversations on Sept. 18 with Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and H.E. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, regarding the escalating border tensions.

Samdech Thipadei briefed H.E. Anwar Ibrahim on the alarming developments in Prey Chan village, O’ Bei Choan commune, O’ Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province, where recent clashes between Thai mixed armed forces and Cambodian civilians left numerous people injured.

The Cambodian Prime Minister requested Malaysia’s immediate intervention to help de-escalate the situation by maintaining the status quo, preventing further escalation, and allowing the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) to resolve the issue in accordance with the agreement reached at the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) special meeting on Sept. 10, 2025.

In his phone call with the Thai Prime Minister, Malaysian news agency Bernama cited H.E. Anwar Ibrahim’s Facebook post as saying, “We discussed the latest developments at the Thailand-Cambodia border. I emphasised the importance for all parties to maintain peace and avoid allowing any differences to spark unnecessary tensions.”

In addition, H.E. Anwar Ibrahim called for any arising issues to be resolved at the negotiation table through the JBC meetings. “Malaysia believes that the spirit of dialogue, diplomacy and mutual understanding is the best way to ensure regional peace and stability,” he added. 

On Sept. 17, 2025, Thai paramilitary and border patrol forces deployed barbed wire, fired tear gas, and used slingshots against Cambodian civilians in Prey Chan village, injuring about 30 civilians, Buddhist monks, and unarmed forces.

By C. Nika