thailand's relations with malaysia also reached a new high as a result of the kuala lumpur government doing much to remove bangkok's suspicion of malaysian support for insurgent activities by muslim separatists in the southern part of thailand. malaysia played an important role in the handing over to thai authorities of core members of the separatist movement. on his visit to the southern province of songkhla in april 1997, malaysian prime minister mahathir mohamad urged the muslim population there to be loyal to thailand.