Thailand to learn from Malaysian education system to fight radicalism
Thailand to learn from Malaysian education system to fight radicalism
Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur
Thailand will draw lessons from Malaysia's education system to
prevent Muslims in its insurgency-wracked southern provinces from
being swayed by extremist teachings of Islamic radicals,
officials said on Thursday.
Most Muslims have no involvement in the Islamic separatist
insurgency convulsing southern Thailand but some have been misled
into believing that it is their religious obligation to oppose
the government, said visiting Thai Defense Minister Thammarak
Isarangura Na Ayutthaya.
"We have to solve the religious indoctrination which has
created trouble in southern Thailand," he told reporters after
talks with his Malaysian counterpart, Najib Razak, on security
issues shared by the two neighbors.
"That's why we have to study much from the Malaysian education
system," he said, referring to the moderate Islam that is
promoted in local schools. He did not elaborate.
The modern Islam, and a rejection of its outdated
interpretations, that is taught in Malaysia has in part sheltered
the country from Islamic extremism gripping many Muslim
countries.
Similar teachings are said to be responsible for fueling the
anti-government anger among the local populace in southern
Thailand, comprising three predominantly Muslim provinces in the
Buddhist country. The dissent has led to a simmering separatist
insurgency that has claimed more than 800 lives since early last
year.
Thammark added that Thai authorities are trying to catch the
culprits behind the violence but efforts were taking a long time
because officials want to ensure that innocent citizens are not
wrongly detained.
"We believe that this issue can be resolved soon," he told a
news conference, speaking through an interpreter. "We have to
ensure peace and safety for the southern Thai Muslims so that we
can rebuild the economic system."
Najib, the Malaysian minister, said his government so far has
been helping Thailand by providing skills training for youth in
southern Thailand and infrastructure development projects such as
building bridges. He said Malaysia was willing to consider any
other request Thailand may have.
Currently, security efforts to ensure stability on the border
shared by both countries are being done through patrolling and
the exchange of intelligence, including regular meetings between
officials of both sides, he said.
Thursday's meeting also discussed boosting cooperation to
solve cross-border issues such as smuggling, drug trafficking and
other transnational crimes.