31-7-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced a substantial investment of 100 million ringgit (approximately S$21million) to upgrade facilities in three northern states bordering Thailand.
The announcement, made on Tuesday, comes just days before a pivotal summit between Prime Minister Anwar and his Thai counterpart, Srettha Thavisin, scheduled for Saturday. The high-level meeting will take place in the border towns of Sungai Kolok in Thailand’s Narathiwat province and Rantau Panjang in Malaysia’s Kelantan state.
“There is a need for improvement in the northern peninsula,” Prime Minister Anwar stated, underlining the importance of the investment. The funds will be directed towards enhancing security infrastructure in the states of Kedah, Perlis, and Kelantan, which share borders with Thailand’s southern provinces.
The upcoming summit between the two leaders is expected to focus on critical issues including border security and plans to stimulate cross-border trade between southern Thailand and northern Malaysia. This meeting reflects the growing emphasis both nations are placing on collaborative efforts to address shared challenges and opportunities in the border regions.
Thailand has been actively seeking Malaysia’s cooperation in monitoring the movement of southern insurgents, while Malaysia is intensifying its efforts to combat fuel and diesel smuggling into Thailand, as well as addressing the issue of illegal Thai workers in Malaysia.
The announcement of this significant investment comes against a backdrop of recent law enforcement activities highlighting the ongoing challenges in the border region. In a recent operation, Malaysian immigration authorities apprehended 62 Thai nationals, including three young children, working illegally at Thai restaurants in Ipoh, the capital of Perak state.
Furthermore, two Thai nationals were arrested in Kedah on Saturday for allegedly attempting to smuggle low-cost petrol from Malaysia to Thailand using modified vehicles, underscoring the persistent issues of cross-border smuggling.
These incidents emphasise the complex nature of border management and the need for enhanced cooperation between the two nations. The upcoming summit and Malaysia’s financial commitment to upgrading border facilities are seen as positive steps towards addressing these challenges and fostering stronger bilateral relations.
