Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has instructed the armed forces to step up security nationwide following reports of Islamic State's movements in Malaysia.
Defence Ministry spokesman Maj Gen Khongcheep Trantrawanich said Monday Gen Prawit chaired a meeting of the Defence Council to discuss security with the armed forces' commanders. With the nature of the threat in Malaysia unspecified, security forces will monitor links between domestic insurgents and terrorist groups abroad.
According to media reports, Malaysia last week arrested five suspects -- four Malaysians and one Indonesian -- for alleged links to the Islamic State (IS) militant group, and another regional terror network.
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Gen Prawit also told intelligence and security agencies to exchange information with other countries following the deadly attacks on Paris on Nov 13. He stressed the need for agencies to develop preventive measures by working with the public to create a network to support security operations, Maj Gen Khongcheep said.
The public are also encouraged to help authorities to watch out for those with ill intent. Gen Prawit also ordered the military to support police operations to maintain security nationwide, particularly at risk areas.
In his opening speech at the 16th Asean Chiefs of Army Multilateral Meeting in Bangkok Monday, army commander Gen Theerachai Nakvanich said the army chiefs in Asean have agreed they need to work together to deal with various security threats including natural disasters, transnational crimes and terrorism.
Apart from political and economic cooperation, they agreed military mechanisms will be used to build environments boosting security and stability in the region over the next five years, Gen Theerachai said.
The secretariat of the National Council for Peace and Order laid out security preparations Monday for upcoming festivities including the Loy Krathong festival and New Year's celebrations, deputy NCPO spokeswoman Col Sirichan Ngathong said.
She said assistant army chief Gen Chalermchai Sitthisart, in his capacity as the NCPO's deputy secretary-general, had instructed the Peace and Order Maintaining Force to work with police and local authorities to prepare measures to ensure public safety, prevent accidents, improve the travel of tourists and promote a festive mood.
The move is part of the Safety Thailand campaign launched by the government recently, Col Sirichan said.
Also on Monday, Phuket governor Chamroen Tippayapongthada met the ambassadors of Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland to discuss security measures for tourists in the island province.
They discussed safety on the beaches, road safety, problems involving taxi drivers, motorcycle rentals, expired visas, and drug problems, Mr Chamroen said.
He stressed the need to restore order on the beaches to prevent illegal occupation, adding authorities will step up security with additional closed-circuit television cameras to be installed around the island.
Tourist security centres will also be set up on all beaches to boost tourist confidence.