Thai PM supports Malaysia’s proposal for better port connectivity

The North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) in Butterworth, Penang. /Picby: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star/29 December 2016.

BANGKOK: Malaysia’s proposal for a better connectivity between Songkhla Port in southern Thailand and Penang Port has received a thumbs-up from Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The premier said both countries would intensify discussions on the matter as it could be of mutual benefit.

“We share the border, so, I think we should be joining hands. We should develop our economy together through increased connectivity such as our sea ports, customs borders and investment on both sides,” he told the media at the Government House in Bangkok on Friday.

Earlier on Friday, he received Malaysian Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani and members of the Kuala Lumpur Business Club (KLBC), who were three-day visit to Thailand beginning Wednesday, at his office.

The KLBC’s delegation was headed by its president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz, who is also CIMB Group Holdings Bhd group chief executive officer.

Johari sounded off Malaysia’s proposal for a better connectivity between Songkhla Port and Penang Port when he called on Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak on Thursday.

Johari told Bernama that Thailand was excited over the proposal which would see better flow of goods and containers from Songkhla Port to Penang Port as better connectivity between the two seaports was needed due to their close proximity.

Besides providing better linkage between the two ports, Prayut said he and Johari also discussed on the development of the Rubber City between the Songkhla province in southern Thailand and Kedah.

Johari also brought along several potential investors for the Rubber City project and introduced them to Prayut and Somkid.

“From now on, we will discuss further on road construction (at the border) and we will mobilise everything within this year,” Prayut said, adding that he and Johari also discussed ways to increase economic cooperation between the two neigbours.

“Many countries are interested in Thailand and ready to join hands with us,” he said. - Bernama