The government today called on Thailand to exercise caution after more than a hundred Muslim militants were killed in clashes with security forces in southern provinces near the Malaysian border.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar both expressed serious concern over the violence and the possibility that it could threaten Muslim Malaysia's own security.

"What we don't want is that this thing is exacerbated by a feeling of dissatisfaction within the society. Whatever happens, it needs to be handled with care," Syed Hamid told a news conference.

"There is so much death, so much violence. While it is a domestic concern of Thailand's, we want that domestic incident not to overflow through our borders," he said, adding that the situation was "of serious concern" to Malaysia.

"There is a need to resolve this issue. I think they need to look at it very closely.

"The most important thing for our region at this time is to send the correct signals about the security and stability of our region."

"There is a need to resolve this issue. I think they need to look at it very closely."

Cooperation more vital now

Abdullah told a separate news conference: "We are really worried about what is happening in Thailand."

People fleeing the Thai security forces might try to enter Malaysia and "this can threaten our security", he said, adding that the army and police had intensified border checks.

Abdullah said he was "saddened by what has happened" and expressed the hope that the Thai government would do its best to prevent further violence.

Asked about some reports suggesting the young Muslims had been "massacred" after being lured into a trap by the Thai security forces, he said he did not want to speculate on who was involved.

"I've read reports that some organisations that were suspected to have been involved have denied that they are responsible.

"As far as we are concerned we can only hope there will be no more clashes and no more people dying. We ensure that our borders are protected well so that there will not be any incursions and no people running to our side of the border which will then cause another problem."

Asked whether the unrest would affect relations between the two countries, he said it would make cooperation even more important.

"It is an area that can affect both Thailand and Malaysia if you don't manage it well," he said.

Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist nation but about five percent of the population is Muslim, and most live in the five southern provinces bordering Malaysia, which is a mainly Muslim country.

Dawn raid

Thai authorities said 107 young Muslim rebels were killed in a series of dawn raids Wednesday on police stations and checkpoints in three of the southern provinces, while five security personnel lost their lives.

The region was plagued by separatist unrest until the 1980s when the Thai government managed to curb militant activity, but violence has flared again this year.

After earlier unrest claimed the lives of some 65 security personnel, government officials and Buddhist monks, Malaysia expressed irritation at claims that the rebels were using bases on its territory.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra flew to Kuala Lumpur on April 12 to smooth relations and won a pledge of full support from Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who said Malaysia was totally opposed to terrorism. - AFP