The killings of more than 100 Thai Muslims alleged to be militants by Thai security forces in its southern region on April 28 has sent a shock wave to the region, especially Muslim-majority Malaysia who share a 506-km land border with the Buddhist-predominated kingdom.

In response to the unrest, Malaysia's Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar reportedly said that Malaysia's security interest lies in not having Thai's "domestic incident" overflowing into Malaysia's territory. There is a fear that Thai Muslims who may fled their homeland may enter Malaysia en masse, reminiscent of the influx of Vietnamese refugees in the aftermath of the fall of the US-backed South Vietnam regime in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City).

Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was also quoted as saying that the country's army and police has intensified border checks because Malaysians "are really worried about what is happening in Thailand".

Indeed, the April 28 incident was not the first or an isolated case, but only the latest of a series of what looks like more or less coordinated and organised violent campaigns launched by Muslims in southern Thailand against the central government in Bangkok. In response, Malaysian armed forces and police had stepped up security patrols and other measures on the border a few months ago.

What seems to complicate the matter is an earlier allegation made by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra earlier in the public that Malaysia "harbours" Thai Muslim "separatist terrorists". Some press reports in Thailand also allegedly suggested that Malaysia also "trained" them.

These have been rebutted by the Malaysian authorities.