KOTA BARU: The Thai Cabinet’s approval of the Sungai Golok Basin development project opens up avenues for closer cooperation between Malaysia and Thailand in addressing flood risks, water security and ecosystem restoration in the border areas of both countries.
National Security Council director-general Datuk Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin said Malaysia also intends to implement related developments in the area, though the matter is still in the planning stages.
He added that the government will continue to communicate with Thailand to ensure that any development planning which involves the Sungai Golok Basin can be coordinated.
“We will constantly remain in contact with the Thai government because it involves the interests of both countries,” he told reporters after the council meeting at the Kota Darul Naim complex here yesterday.
The Thai Cabinet was previously reported to have approved a joint environmental project with Malaysia aimed at reducing flood risks, enhancing water security and restoring the ecosystem in the Sungai Golok Basin.
The initiative has received US$4mil (RM16.1mil) in funding from the Global Environment Facility and will be implemented over 48 months with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
The project was jointly developed by Thailand’s Office of National Water Resources and Malaysia’s Irrigation and Drainage Department to strengthen transboundary water resource management.
The project also includes the development of a shared database, flood and drought risk assessments, as well as preparation of a joint strategic action plan for the river basin.
He added that the government is also ironing out the details of economic initiatives to assist communities affected by the demolition of 91 illegal jetties along Sungai Golok, including those in Rantau Panjang and Tumpat, Bernama reported.
He said the initiative is still in the works and will be implemented once coordination between the federal and state governments is finalised.
