Malaysia has no intention of interfering in Thailand's affairs and will only enter into discussions over the southern Thailand issue if there is a request, said Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Salang.

"I've always believed that the Thai government understands that we don't want to take this initiative since Malaysia has stood by its stance. It is up to Thailand to build trust, (instead of) having doubts and suspicion," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur this morning after officiating the United Nations Day 2005.

Pressed as to whether Malaysia would initiate the talks, he said with a smile: "You tell me what we need to do to initiate this ... we will stand by what we say. We have never in any way tried to make any of our neighbours unhappy."

He said Malaysia welcomes the statement by Thai Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon yesterday that he was hopeful of an improvement in relations with Malaysia.

"We welcome this very much. As we are all aware, Malaysia has always tried its best to foster friendly relationships particularly with neighbours. We have never interfered in the internal affairs of our neighbours," he said.

"If there is anything they think they need to understand better, there are always diplomatic channels (instead of going) through the media."

Tense relations

Thailand's English-language daily The Nation yesterday quoted Kantathi as saying that he considered the episode with Malaysia "past and gone". The comments contrasted with his remarks last Wednesday, when he told reporters he had stopped speaking with Malaysia.

Bilateral relations turned soured after 131 Thai Muslims in troubled southern Thailand fled to Kelantan at the end of August to seek asylum.

Thailand was furious over Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister Syed Hamid Albar's statement that the country would only send them back if their lives were not threatened.

However, a thaw was noted when Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra sent his deputy Surakiart Sathirathai to the funeral of Endon Mahmood, wife of Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last week.

Today, Thai intelligence chief Lt-Gen Chayasit Linthong is in Malaysia to meet officials and the refugees currently being held in Terengganu.

At the UN function, meanwhile, human rights commissioner Dr Raj Karim (photo, left) was awarded the 2005 United Nations Malaysia Award for her contributions in promoting women's and children's health issues.

Raj, who is director of International Planned Parenthood Federation for the East and Southeast Asia and Oceania Region, was the first Malaysian woman to win the award.