Thailand will seek Malaysia's cooperation in addressing long-standing problems involving dual nationals along the border amid concerns over its potential security implications in the southern border provinces, National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general Chatchai Bangchuad said on Tuesday.
Mr Chatchai said he was scheduled to meet the government's special envoys on Tuesday afternoon to coordinate operations and review border-related issues ahead of his visit to Malaysia on Aug 17-18. The discussions will include requests for Malaysian cooperation on border control and efforts to track people crossing the border.
Mr Chatchai said dual nationality had remained a challenge for years, particularly in verifying identities and maintaining accurate personal records.
He said some individuals change their names after crossing the border, making it difficult for Thai authorities to verify their identities. Addressing the problem would require close cooperation from Malaysia, he said.
Asked whether dual nationals could be linked to security incidents in the Deep South, Mr Chatchai said this was possible because some people change their names and lack identity records, making it difficult for authorities to verify their identities and monitor cross-border movements.
Thailand will seek Malaysia's assistance in developing personal databases to help authorities verify identities, monitor border crossings and establish people's nationality status, he said.
Asked whether a long-term solution would require people to choose a single nationality, Mr Chatchai said the law generally requires an individual to hold only one nationality and authorities would work to ensure compliance.
On nationality revocation, he said citizenship generally cannot be revoked from Thai-born nationals, but different rules may apply to naturalised citizens.
