PETALING JAYA – With heavy hearts and rising concern, Malaysians and the broader ASEAN community are watching the deteriorating situation along the Thailand-Cambodia border. The sound of gunfire, airstrikes, and exploding landmines has claimed lives—at least nine innocent civilians have already been lost. At a time when Southeast Asia is striving for unity and prosperity, violence threatens to pull us backwards.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stepped up with a clear message: enough is enough.
Speaking from the ASEAN Semiconductor Summit 2025, Anwar addressed the worsening conflict and made a heartfelt call for immediate de-escalation. As the current ASEAN Chair, he’s personally reaching out to both Thai and Cambodian leaders, urging them to halt the hostilities and come to the negotiating table.
“This is a deeply worrying situation,” Anwar said. “Both Thailand and Cambodia are our neighbours and ASEAN family members. The least we can expect is for them to stand down. Peace must be the only option.”
Anwar emphasized that he had already sent messages to both Prime Ministers and would be speaking with them directly later in the evening. His goal is to encourage dialogue and stress the shared responsibility of ASEAN nations to maintain peace, stability, and mutual respect.
Meanwhile, the political situation in both countries adds complexity. Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, leaving Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai as acting PM. Cambodia’s leadership, under Prime Minister Hun Manet, remains firm in defending its sovereignty.
The fighting has already led to tragic scenes—six civilians were killed at a gas station in Thailand’s Si Sa Ket province, and Thai airstrikes reportedly struck Cambodian targets near the ancient Preah Vihear temple. Cambodian authorities claim hospitals and civilian sites have been hit.
Tensions further escalated with the downgrading of diplomatic ties. Cambodia expelled the Thai ambassador, and Thailand did the same in return. This follows a series of land mine incidents that left several Thai soldiers seriously injured.
The border between these two nations has long been contested, especially around the culturally and historically significant Preah Vihear temple. While the International Court of Justice granted sovereignty to Cambodia in 1962, and reaffirmed it in 2013, the ruling still leaves scars that flare into deadly violence.
What we are witnessing now isn’t just a regional skirmish. It’s a human crisis. Families have lost loved ones. Communities are caught in the crossfire. Diplomacy must prevail before more lives are lost.
As ASEAN Chair, Malaysia’s leadership under Anwar Ibrahim is standing firm for peace, urging both sides to rise above retaliation and prioritize negotiation. Because in the end, when dialogue breaks down, it is the people—not just the politics—who suffer the most.
Let peace lead. Let voices be heard before bullets.
