PASIR MAS: Malaysia and Thailand have agreed to expedite the construction of a second bridge across Sungai Golok between Rantau Panjang in Kelantan and Sungai Kolok town in Narathiwat, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said this was among the decisions adopted at his meeting with Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin during a working visit to the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Sungai Golok yesterday.
Anwar said that both countries have also decided to accelerate the dredging and deepening of the Sungai Golok estuary, which will help address the perennial flooding that affects southern Thailand and northern Kelantan.
“During our meeting earlier, we requested the construction of the second bridge to be expedited and prioritised as a key 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,” Anwar said in his speech at the Pasir Mas Land and District Office, Bernama reported.
The government will also initiate commercial projects in the area surrounding the second bridge such as building stalls and shops to further boost business in Kelantan, he added.
The project is expected to take two years to complete once construction begins in April next year, but Anwar is optimistic that the timeline could be expedited without compromising on quality.
Great teamwork: Anwar with Srettha (left) during a visit to the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex in Rantau Panjang. — Bernama
“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.
“When personal relations are good and relations between the two governments are strong, the benefits will reach the people,” he said.
Anwar expressed his confidence that ties between the two neighbours will further improve under Srettha’s leadership.
In his speech, Srettha said that northern Malaysia and southern Thailand are blessed with natural resources and deep ties between their people.
He said initiatives such as the second Sungai Golok bridge and a special economic zone will boost growth and development in 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 business and rubber industry,” Srettha said.
