THE government does not plan to reopen the passport-free travel zone at the border between Wang Kelian in Malaysia and Wang Prachan in Thailand due to security factors.

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said in this regard, the government had stopped the free flow of travel at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security complex at Wang Kelian since April 1, 2015.

He said the move was to enforce the law at the border.

“This means that Malaysians who wish to cross the border should do so through the gazetted entry/exit point and they need to have an international passport or valid travel documents such as the border pass and it is likewise for Thai nationals.

“This measure is necessary to curb security threats and smuggling of prohibited items into the country,” he said in a written reply published on the Parliament website today.

Muhyiddin was replying to a question from Shahidan Kassim (BN-Arau) on whether the government planned to reopen the free flow zone at Wang Kelian soon.

Those who travel through the zone are exempt from having to show their passports on both sides of the border. – Bernama, October 9, 2019.