KUALA LUMPUR - The Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting to assess the latest developments in the border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand has been postponed, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said here on Monday.

"It allows us to ensure that everything is properly in place," he told the media, adding that Malaysia continues to coordinate efforts and closely monitor the situation.

"We continue to appeal to both sides to stop the fighting...I remain in virtual contact with them on a daily basis," he said.

Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday also confirmed that the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, initially scheduled for Dec 16, has been postponed to Dec 22.

Gulf of Thailand as high-risk area

Also on Monday, Thailand's military announced the designation of the Gulf of Thailand as a high-risk area. According to Thai media, the move is aimed at cutting off sea routes for transporting military supplies to Cambodia.

In a social media post on Monday, the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters clarified that the move is a safety precaution. It stressed that the measure does not amount to a full closure of the gulf, and will not affect vessels from third countries.

At a press conference on the Thailand-Cambodia border situation held on Monday, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura said the ministry has sent a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to lodge a complaint against Cambodia's indiscriminate attacks on Thailand, including strikes targeting civilian areas.

READ MORE: Cambodia says Thai forces expand airstrikes, civilian death toll rises to 12

According to a briefing by a Ministry of Defence spokesperson on Sunday, the latest round of clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has left 16 Thai soldiers dead and more than 320 others wounded. As of the afternoon of Monday, 13 civilians have been killed and over 260,000 people have been displaced.