BANGKOK - Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today held talks with his Thai counterpart Thaksin Shinawatra dominated by the controversial gas pipeline project between the two countries and the issue of dual citizenship.

Thaksin told reporters after the talks that Mahathir, here on a three-day official visit, had sought and received an assurance that the US$1 billion (RM3.8 billion), much-delayed project would proceed.

"Malaysia needed reassurance because it has invested a lot of money in this project, and it will provide benefits to both countries," he said.

Thaksin officially gave the pipeline project, which will link southern Thailand with an offshore gas field being jointly developed with Malaysia, the go-ahead in May after plans were suspended following strong protest from Thai environmental groups.

The groups still say the pipeline will destroy fishing grounds and cause other ecological damage.

Thaksin also told reporters that Malaysia had agreed to a request to examine the issue of dual citizenship held between their nationals.

Shooting attacks

The five southernmost provinces of Thailand, where the population is predominantly Muslim, have been rocked by a spate of shooting attacks on police officers since March that have left 12 officers dead.

Thaksin has blamed the ability of suspects to slip easily into Malaysia as a reason for no arrests being made over the shootings.

"We agreed that people born in Malaysia should hold Malaysian citizenship only, while people born in Thailand should hold Thai citizeship," he said, without elaborating further.

Thai foreign ministry spokesman Ratthakit Manathat told a press briefing following the talks that Mahathir invited Thaksin to visit Kuala Lumpur before next October, when he steps down as Asia's longest-serving premier, Ratthakit also said.

Mahathir was given a royal audience with Thailand's Queen Sirikit this evening, and was scheduled to attend a dinner hosted by Thaksin before returning to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow. AFP