NationThailand-Sept 1
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry was preparing to ask the Cabinet on Tuesday (September 1, 2026) to consider extending the existing fence along the Malaysian border as part of broader efforts to curb drug trafficking and contraband smuggling in the southern border provinces. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said the proposal emerged from a consultation on ways to address problems in the Deep South.
He stressed that fencing already existed along parts of the frontier and that the proposal concerned additional construction rather than an entirely new barrier. Sihasak said the government must examine the root causes of unrest and determine who was involved in recent incidents. Security was critical because violence affected public confidence and economic conditions in the southern border provinces, he added. Sihasak called for more accurate intelligence and closer coordination among the numerous agencies involved in security operations. Intelligence must be integrated so that the government can make decisions and respond to threats promptly, he said. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had also emphasized intelligence coordination during discussions on Monday, according to Sihasak. He said Thailand should be able to develop a more effective early-warning system. The government’s most important task was to prevent a recurrence of the incidents on August 22-23, which had damaged confidence among residents, investors and business operators in the region. Sihasak also highlighted the importance of community engagement, saying stronger local networks could help authorities receive information and act more quickly.
Such work could not produce results overnight and must be sustained over the long term, he said. Government policy must give young people a clearer view of the economic opportunities available to them, particularly through employment, Sihasak said. He called for serious economic development in the three southern border provinces, supported by adequate infrastructure and improved links with Malaysia. Those connections should include both roads and railways to strengthen cross-border travel, trade and economic activity.
The government’s southern strategy must address economic and social development, security and education together rather than treating them as separate issues, he added. Read more at:
