Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today launched what was billed as a "warm-up" tour of Thailand ahead of the retirement of veteran premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad who steps down next month.

For Abdullah, Mahathir's hand-picked successor and likely next prime minister, symbolism supercedes substance on the two-day trip, his first visit to neighbouring Thailand as deputy premier, a Malaysian embassy official said.

"It is a warm-up visit. He is expected to be our next prime minister, and the Thais are extending a courtesy to him on that basis," embassy first secretary Kamsiah Kamaruddin told AFP .

"There is basically nothing too substantial to his visit. There could be a wide range of issues discussed, but no specific issues that we are preparing for in talks between Abdullah and his Thai counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister Korn Dabbaransi," she added.

Familiarisation visit

Abdullah, accompanied by Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar and other officials, arrived at a Thai air force base outside Bangkok just after 1pm and was received by Korn.

He was due to hold formal talks with Korn later in the evening ahead of a Tuesday meeting with Interior Minister Wan Muhamad Nor Mata, followed by dinner with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, according to an official schedule released by the Thai foreign ministry.

The ministry categorized the trip as a "familiarisation visit for top government officials."

A Malaysian government statement said matters to be discussed included cooperation along the Malaysia-Thailand border, trade and investment, agriculture and tourism, as well as transportation issues.

At the weekend Malaysian and Thai armed forces agreed to boost joint military operations to prevent terrorists from operating in their common border areas.

Intelligence exchange

Suspected terror mastermind Hambali of Indonesia was arrested Aug 11 in Thailand with the assistance of agents from the US Central Intelligence Agency.

Malaysia has said it played a role in the his capture, attributing his arrest to exchanges of intelligence with neighbouring countries.

Abdullah is expected to take over from the 77-year-old Mahathir, who after 22 years in power has pledged to retire after attending an Organisation of Islamic Countries summit in Kuala Lumpur and a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders in Bangkok, both in October. - AFP