Najib plans Thailand trip

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak will visit Thailand next month to meet his counterpart in Bangkok.

The Dec 8-9 visit will also take in the Thai-Malaysian border province of Narathiwat in the restive South.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday he will meet Mr Najib in Bangkok on Dec 8.

Both leaders will visit Narathiwat the following day to observe educational development programmes there.

The government aims to develop education and boost incomes for residents of the three southern border provinces as part of its strategy to tackle the violent insurgency which has claimed more than 4,000 lives since 2003.

The premiers will also visit a bridge crossing the Kolok River which links the two countries to sign a pact to change the bridge's name to Friendship Bridge.

Mr Najib earlier this month suggested that the insurgency-torn southern border provinces of Thailand should be granted some autonomy.

Mr Abhisit said the government wants greater public participation in local administration and that it is shifting power from the central and provincial levels to local government bodies.

But any changes must be made without contravening the constitution, Mr Abhisit said.

The prime minister said he looked forward to his talks with Mr Najib when he visits Thailand. TNA