It has also expressed its appreciation for the continuous cooperation in strengthening security along the borders of the two countries.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the matter was conveyed to him by Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha in a meeting in conjunction with his official visit to the country.

“I gave my commitment to resume the dialogue which was halted due to Covid-19 earlier,” he told journalists here today.

The negotiations are described as new hope to end violence in Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla in which the majority of the residents are Muslims.

Face-to-face negotiations were disrupted when the Malaysia-Thailand border was closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, both parties held virtual meetings three times during the period.

Peace negotiations on southern Thailand via physical meetings were held for the first time again in Kuala Lumpur last month.

Former inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Noor, who represented the Malaysian government, is continuing his role as facilitator in the peace negotiations.

Insurgency in southern Thailand, which began in 2004, had taken more than 7,000 lives.

Chief negotiator Wanlop Rugsanaoh and the most influential armed group in southern Thailand, the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) headed by Anas Abdulrahman, had held a meeting.

On border security, Ismail said Malaysia was committed to cooperating with Thailand to ensure the borders of the two countries remained secure and protected, by strengthening cooperation, including eradicating cross-border smuggling and criminal activities.