Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim yesterday urged Thailand and Cambodia to exercise restraint after conflict erupted along their shared border, breaking the peace accord agreed in Kuala Lumpur in late October.

In a post on X, Anwar, the outgoing chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said that he was “deeply concerned by reports of armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai forces.”

“We urge both sides to exercise maximum restraint, maintain open channels of communication, and make full use of the mechanisms in place,” said Anwar. “Malaysia stands ready to support steps that can help restore calm and avert further incidents.”

Anwar’s call came after serious fighting once again ignited along the disputed border late on Sunday, killing at least five people and prompting residents on both sides of the border to evacuate the region.

The clashes began late on Sunday with an exchange of fire between Thai and Cambodian troops on the border between Thailand’s Sisaket province and Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province. The fighting rapidly expanded along the border yesterday, as the two sides exchanged blame for the clashes.

The Royal Thai Army (RTA) claimed that Cambodian troops fired on Thai forces early on yesterday morning in Ubon Ratchathani province, resulting in the death of one soldier and injuries to four others. The RTA subsequently

© The Diplomat