BANGKOK - Thailand said today it was preparing tight security for a cabinet meeting this month in the country's Muslim-majority south which Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will join.

The five provinces bordering Malaysia have been hit by a recent spate of violence including bombings at a hotel and a Buddhist temple and arsons attacks on five schools.

The Dec 21-22 meeting will be held jointly with leaders from Kedah, with Mahathir joining the group on the final day, Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said.

Interior Minister Wan Muhamad Nor Matha said he would travel to the region today to inspect security measures in place for the unprecedented meeting which will be held in the Thai province of Songkhla as well as Kedah.

"I will inspect security measures in Songkhla province to get first-hand information and supervise the security plan, and will go there again on Dec 20," he told reporters.

Gain notoriety

Wan Nor, himself a member of Thailand's minority Muslim community, said that while generally he believed the restive southern provinces were safe, trouble-makers could seize on the meeting to gain notoriety.

"I am afraid that some ill-intentioned people may try to an create incident to gain media attention," he said.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said the Thai and Malaysian leaders would use the meeting to discuss issues of mutual concern along the border.

"We will concentrate on cooperation in the common border area including in economic, political, and social affairs," he told reporters.

Surakiart said topics to be discussed would include the opening of new checkpoints, the extension of existing checkpoints' operating hours, and allowing the transport of perishable goods through each other's territories.

"Thailand will seek permission from Malaysia to transport perishable goods to Singapore while Thailand will discuss allowing Malaysia to transport perishable goods to Laos," he said. AFP