How could Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak come out with a naive statement that Wan Abdul Kadir Che Man is not a threat to Thailand? No wonder Thailand viewed Malaysia with suspicion when trouble started in southern Thailand.

It was reported that Wan Kadir is the chairman of the umbrella group of insurgent movements called Bersatu and there is no doubt that his group has been actively involved in the movement for a separate Muslim homeland in south Thailand.

To give sanctuary to such a person could easily be misconstrued by Thailand as giving support to Wan Kadir's cause. To further provide employment to such a controversial figure would tantamount to unequivocally interfering in the internal affairs of Thailand.

This would be akin to Thailand providing sanctuary to communist leader Chin Peng at the height of our communist insurgency. Our leaders have always advocated a policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of another country and this unfriendly act is certainly inconsistent with our stated policy.

Furthermore, is it true that Malaysia has grant Wan Kadir a Malaysian citizenship? This has cast a further doubt on our leaders stated objective of non-interference.

To grant citizenship to a person of Wan Kadir's background is clearly providing aid to a fugitive whose stated aim is to have a separate Muslim homeland in south Thailand.