Malaysian authorities ultimately convinced BRN-C leaders to begin discussions after taking them into custody. Malaysia was also motivated by the need to appease voters in Kelatan in the run-up to the elections. The northeastern states of Malaysia are strongholds of opposition parties, where voters sympathetic to the plight of the Malay-Muslims in southern Thailand could be swayed by a political settlement to the conflict. It remains to be seen if Malaysia’s commitment to a Thai peace process lasts after the election.