Thai-Cambodia border clashes raise safety concerns for Malaysian SEA Games contingent

Thailand’s airstrikes along its disputed border with Cambodia as it hosts the 2025 SEA Games have raised concern over the safety of sports officials and athletes in the Kingdom.

The Malaysian contingent receives daily updates from the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok but has yet to receive any latest advisory regarding the latest attacks.

“The last update from the embassy was yesterday. We have been told to avoid ‘hot’ areas but there is not much of a security threat at this point in time,” said National Sports Council director general Jefri Ngadiri.

Jefri, who is already in Bangkok for the regional Games, said all seems fine in the capital city.

“I was out earlier this morning and everything seemed normal. The hotels housing our officials and athletes are secure. But we will keep close tabs on the latest development.”

While several competitions have started, the opening ceremony of the 33rd SEA Games will be held at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok tomorrow. Events involving close to 14,000 athletes are being held across Bangkok and Chonburi – hundreds of kilometres away from the conflict zone.

Thailand’s military said it launched F-16 fighters to target several areas after a Thai soldier was killed and four others wounded in clashes along the border. A second Thai soldier was later declared to have died. In July, at least 48 people were killed and 300,000 were forced to flee their homes after tensions erupted.

This comes despite a peace deal signed between Thailand and Cambodia during the 47th Asean Summit in October in Kuala Lumpur. The ceremony was witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and US President Donald Trump. Malaysia is the Asean chair for 2025.

Anwar, in a statement this morning, expressed his deep concern over the armed clashes.

“I offer my condolences to the families of those who have been killed or injured. The renewed fighting risks unravelling the careful work that has gone into stabilising relations between the two neighbours,” Anwar said.

“Thailand and Cambodia are close partners of Malaysia and key members of Asean. We urge both sides to exercise maximum restraint, maintain open channels of communication, and make full use of the mechanisms in place. Malaysia stands ready to support steps that can help restore calm and avert further incidents.

“Our region cannot afford to see long-standing disputes slip into cycles of confrontation. The immediate priority is to halt the fighting, safeguard civilians, and return to a diplomatic path supported by international law and the neighbourly spirit on which Asean depends,” he added.