Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha does not think Thursday’s hand-grenade incident outside a Kuala Lumpur entertainment centre will affect Thailand’s peace talks with southern militants.
Before departing for Myanmar, Gen Prayut said the incident - which killed one person and injured 13 in Jalan Bukit Bintang, a road lined with bars and other entertainment spots - was unrelated to Malaysia acting as facilitator in coming peace talks with insurgents in Thailand's three southern provinces.
A forensics police officer collects broken shards of glass from an awning as investigations continue at the scene of a grenade attack outside a shopping centre at Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur Oct 9. A car jockey was killed and 13 others were injured in the blast in the early hours of Thursday morning outside the building housing the Cherry Blossom nightclub, according to authorities. Two grenades were used but only one exploded in the attack which police said may have involved a business feud. Among the injured were a Singaporean, two Chinese citizens and a Thai citizen, according to local media. (Reuters photo)
The general said the insurgents have no conflict with Malaysians, only Thais. The southern neighbour has not intervened in the 10-year insurgency and is only trying to bring both parties to the table, he said.
The Associated Press reported that a Thai woman, a Singaporean and four mainland Chinese were among the 13 people hurt in the early morning blast that police believe is related to an on-going war between rival gangs. Some of the victims were about to board a van when the grenade fell near them from the second floor of the building.
"It could have been done by locals or immigrants," Prime Minister Najib Razak told parliament. "It could also have been due to a business rivalry between the clubs in the area. There are numerous possibilities."
Gen Prayut said his government expressed its concern about the explosion and would take care of the injured Thai national. He said he also extended moral support to Malaysia regarding the incident, which he termed security-related.
As for security in the Thailand's southern region, the prime minister said the government already has set its negotiation team, but had yet to discuss the talks with Mr Razak.
Gen Prayut said Thai and Malaysian authorities had been quietly preparing the negotiation details to convince insurgents to join them. More militants switching sides will reduce the number of militant leaders still in conflict with the authorities, the prime minister said.
He said Gen Aksara Kerdpol, chief advisor to the Army and head the military contingent in the peace-making team, has yet to appoint the civilian head of the team.