GBC Meeting: Khaled Nordin To Contact Cambodian, Thai Defence Ministers Today

JOHOR BAHRU, Aug 2 (Bernama) -- Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin today said he would contact his Cambodian and Thai counterparts to inform them of Malaysia’s readiness to host the General Boundary Committee (GBC) Meeting between the two countries.

He said the phone calls will be followed by a virtual meeting via Zoom with both defence ministers to finalise preparations.

“Prior to the Zoom meeting, I will contact each of them individually to convey Malaysia’s readiness to host the meeting. After that, we will hold a joint session to determine the discussion agenda to ensure the meeting next week proceeds smoothly,” he told reporters after the Pasir Gudang UMNO delegates meeting here today.

Before the ministerial-level meeting takes place, he said, senior officers from all three countries will convene at Wisma Perwira, Kuala Lumpur, located next to the Defence Ministry, for preliminary discussions.

Earlier, the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), in a statement, said that it would facilitate the GBC Meeting between Thailand and Cambodia to be held in Kuala Lumpur from Aug 4 to 7.

Its Defence Intelligence and Strategic Communications Division said that the GBC Meeting aims to resolve the border dispute between both countries as part of the ceasefire agreement brokered by Malaysia on July 28.

The meeting was originally scheduled in Phnom Penh on Aug 4. However, on July 31, Thailand submitted a proposal for the meeting to be held in Malaysia as a neutral location.

,--BERNAMA