PASIR MAS, Aug 3 — Malaysia and Thailand have agreed to expedite the construction of a second bridge across the Golok River border between Rantau Panjang in Kelantan and Sungai Golok in Narathiwat, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The prime minister said this was among the decisions adopted during his meeting with Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin today, following a working visit to the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Sungai Golok.
Additionally, Anwar said that both countries have also decided to accelerate the development and dredging of the Golok River estuary, which will help address flood issues affecting southern Thailand and Kelantan.
"When personal relations are good and relations between the two governments are strong, the benefits will reach the people," he said in a brief speech at the Pasir Mas Land and District Office here.
Anwar added that further details on various issues discussed between the two leaders will be announced in a press conference later.
Emphasising his confidence, Anwar assured that Malaysia-Thailand ties would significantly improve under Srettha's leadership.
He said Malaysia appreciated Srettha's commitment to do whatever it took to achieve a peaceful resolution in conflict-stricken Thailand's south and to focus on economic development in southern Thailand and north Malaysia, namely Kelantan.
"Thank you to the prime minister of Thailand. Previously, we met in Sadao and Bukit Kayu Hitam. Thank God, there has been progress. This is an important signal towards cooperation and achieving peace and development,” he said.
Meanwhile, Srettha in his speech said that northern Malaysia and southern Thailand are blessed with natural resources and friendships between the peoples of the two countries.
He noted that many issues were discussed today, such as the Sungai Golok bridge, which will facilitate economic development for Malaysia and Thailand.
“We discussed about a special economic zone that we will be working together on. The foreign ministers will meet next week to discuss the next steps that we hope will be taken to develop the halal food industry and rubber plantations. These are key areas we are looking at.”
Meanwhile, Anwar said the on the construction of the second Sungai Golok-Rantau Panjang bridge, near here, demonstrates both countries' commitment to accelerating regional economic growth.
He said both nations have agreed to focus on advancing several long-delayed key projects, some of which have been pending for decades, as they are expected to bring significant benefits to the people.
“During our meeting earlier, we requested the construction of the second bridge to be expedited and prioritised as a key cooperative project between Thailand and Malaysia and as a positive reflection of our enhanced economic cooperation. This will provide a positive impact for Narathiwat (southern Thailand) and northern Kelantan.
“While the bridge is under construction, Malaysia should also initiate development projects that create business opportunities, including stalls, small shops and improved commercial spaces around the bridge area to ensure it not only serves as a vital connection but also boosts local businesses in Kelantan,” he said.
On the second bridge, Anwar said the project is expected to take two years to complete once construction begins in April next year. However, he is optimistic that the timeline could be expedited without compromising on quality.
“We are also expediting the tender process, which involves 10 companies from Malaysia and 10 from Thailand. If the project is initially slated for completion in 2027, we are hopeful that it could be finished by late 2026,” he said.
Upon completion of the second bridge, Anwar said the existing bridge, which has been connecting the two countries since 1971, will be upgraded.
This, he said, underscored the Federal government's commitment to assisting Kelantan.
— Bernama
