Credit : Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's X
KUALA LUMPUR, October 22, 2026 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today received a courtesy call from Lieutenant General (Retired) Datuk Ahmad Norihan Jalal, who was recently appointed as the Malaysian Government’s Facilitator for the Southern Thailand Peace Dialogue Process.
Anwar said Malaysia remains committed to playing a constructive role in supporting efforts towards regional peace and stability, and stressed that trust, mutual understanding and openness are key to reaching a lasting settlement in Thailand’s southern border provinces.
“This afternoon I received a courtesy call from Lieutenant General (Retired) Datuk Ahmad Norihan Jalal, who was recently appointed as the Malaysian Government’s Facilitator for the Southern Thailand Peace Dialogue Process,” he said in a post shared on X.
“Malaysia is always committed to playing a constructive role in supporting efforts towards regional peace and stability. A dialogue process grounded in trust, understanding and openness is vital to paving the way for a comprehensive and lasting peaceful solution for the well-being of the people in Southern Thailand,” he added.
The post was accompanied by a photograph of the meeting in the Prime Minister’s office, showing Anwar seated at his desk speaking with Ahmad Norihan and another official.
https://x.com/anwaribrahim/status/2113264203117253019
The National Security Council (NSC) under the Prime Minister’s Department announced Ahmad Norihan’s appointment on October 16, 2026, naming him as the successor to Datuk Mohd Rabin Basir, who has completed his service as facilitator. The council said it was confident that his experience, credibility and leadership would strengthen Malaysia’s role as a facilitator trusted by all parties, while giving fresh momentum to the dialogue through a more comprehensive and solution-oriented approach.
Ahmad Norihan served as Malaysia’s 17th Director-General of Defence Intelligence from August 1, 2020, to November 30, 2023, according to the NSC statement as reported by Utusan Malaysia and The Nation. He has more than 33 years of experience in the Malaysian Armed Forces, with expertise in strategic intelligence, defence intelligence, security analysis and operational management at national and international levels.
He began his career as a mobilised officer with the 502 Territorial Army Regiment on May 15, 1987, before joining the Royal Intelligence Corps on October 10, 2002. The NSC said his leadership had strengthened defence intelligence capabilities, coordinated strategic assessments and provided intelligence to support decision-making by the country’s top leadership and the Armed Forces.
Malaysia has facilitated peace talks between the Thai government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) since 2013, over a conflict that escalated in January 2004 in Narathiwat, Yala, Pattani and parts of Songkhla, The Star reported. High-level talks were last held in December, but Thailand later put the dialogue on hold following the deaths of soldiers.
Observers in Thailand have noted the significance of the change, with The Nation reporting that the appointment of a facilitator with a military background coincides with a transition in Thailand’s own military leadership, while the heads of the Thai and BRN dialogue delegations hold civilian roles.
The NSC said the appointment reflects Malaysia’s continued commitment to facilitating constructive dialogue in support of a peaceful, comprehensive and lasting resolution in southern Thailand, and the government also expressed its deepest appreciation to Mohd Rabin for his service.
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