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The modern Islam, and a rejection of its outdated interpretations, that is taught in Malaysia has in part sheltered the country from Islamic extremism gripping many Muslim countries.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.