Thailand-Malaysian relations: an analysis of social history

Abstract

Thailand and Malaysia have long subscribed to the same regional community, whether in the past when it was the Mala Continent, the Golden Continent, and the Indochirese Peninsula, or at present when it is the Malay Peninsula, or ASEAN. Being neighboring countries or countries of a region involves sharing any similarities, from natural surroundings, languages, arts and cultures, as well as social conditions. These factors have become common heritages of both societies, and have served as long standing cultural media to a point of cohesiveness that could withstand outside interferences, whether these are central governments, government functionaries, or partisans of ideologies. These interferences have been felt through history during their presence, although at their waning or recession, it would be the initial cultural heritages that came to the fore. Such is the trend regardless of boundaries, walls, mountains, rivers, custom checkpoints, and government functionaries standing in the way. The old ties that bind the hearts cannot be severed.