Malaysia consists of two parts, East Malaysia and West Malaysia. East Malaysia sits geographically atop the Island of Borneo (Indonesia) and is divided into two states, Sabah and Sarawak. West Malaysia, across the Java Sea, is also known as Peninsular Malaya and in the north shares a border and a history with Thailand. In 2010, the country of Thailand had a population of 66 million, 87 percent of which is Buddhist and only 3 percent Muslim. The Muslims are mostly at the extreme southern and northern ends of the country. In the northern region, Muslims and Thais co-exist peacefully without conflict; however, in the southern provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Patani where 80 percent of the people are Muslim and 20 percent Buddhist, conflicts between Muslims, non-Muslims and Buddhist Thais have occurred regularly. This article examines some of the many causes contributing to the conflict in the region, focusing mainly on causes rooted in religion, ethnic identity, and nationalism.