Thailand Hopes Strong Ties With Malaysia To Remain After Election

BANGKOK, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- Thailand is confident that its strong ties with Malaysia and the two countries' continuing cooperation in solving the southern Thai conflict will remain intact after Malaysia's general election on March 8.

Its Foreign Minister, Noppadon Pattama, said that although the election was an internal affair of the country, he believed that the outcome would not have any effect on the existing bilateral relationship.

"Although the election to elect a new government will take place soon, I'm confident that our ties will not change. Malaysia is a good neighbour and has helped us a lot in the southern issue," he told reporters after Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej made his first visit to the ministry a week after the new government was sworn in last week.

Malaysians will go to the polls on March 8 while nominations will be held on Feb 24.

Despite the dissolution of Parliament, Noppadon, who is expected to start his customary visit to Asean member countries next week, said he still hoped to visit Malaysia during that period.

Otherwise, Noppadon said, he would take the opportunity during the two-day Asean Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Singapore next Tuesday to meet his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, and other ministers from countries bordering Thailand.

He said Samak would also start his overseas visit at the end of this month by visiting the Asean countries, starting with the four countries bordering the kingdom -- Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.
Malaysia will hold a general election on March 8, the Election Commission said on Thursday, with the premier taking the country to the polls early despite growing discord over race and religious issues.

The next election was not due until May 2009.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in power since 2003, secured the dissolution of parliament on Wednesday and is viewed as certain to win the poll, but with a reduced majority.

He faces a likely swing against the ruling coalition, with minority ethnic Chinese and Indians particularly unhappy with his government, which is dominated by ethnic Malay politicians.

Analysts say he is calling a poll now because the electoral mood is unlikely to improve through the rest of his term and that the economy, his main selling point, is slowing down.