Malaysia will wait for Thailand to make a formal and specific request on the areas it needs assistance to defuse the violence in its southern region, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said.

Najib, who is also Defense Minister, said the Thai government has to initiate the request as it involves Thailand's sovereignty, the local press reported Thursday.

Thailand should spell out the form of help it needs before Malaysia could make an offer, Najib told reporters Wednesday in the administrative center of Putrajaya.

"At the moment, we are still open in assisting (Thailand) to defuse tension and finding solutions to overcome conflicts there," Najib was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

Najib added Malaysia will uphold the understanding reached between Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his Thai counterpart Surayud Chulanont during their recent meetings.

Source: Xinhua