MALAYSIA and Thailand have agreed to expedite the construction of a second bridge across the border Golok River between Rantau Panjang in Kelantan and Sungai Golok in Narathiwat, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

According to reports in Bernama, Anwar said this was among the decisions adopted at his meeting with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin following a working visit to the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex in Sungai Golok.

He said both countries have also decided to accelerate the development and dredging of the Sungai Golok estuary, which will help address floods affecting southern Thailand and Kelantan.

“When personal relations are good and relations between the two governments are strong, the benefits will reach the people,” he said in a brief speech at the Pasir Mas Land and District Office.

Anwar also gave his assurance that Malaysia-Thailand relations would improve significantly under Srettha’s leadership.

He said Malaysia appreciates Srettha’s commitment to do whatever it takes to achieve peace and focus on economic development in southern Thailand and northern Malaysia, namely Kelantan.

“Thank you to the prime minister of Thailand. Before this, we met in Sadao and Bukit Kayu Hitam.  Alhamdulillah, there is progress, and this is an important signal towards cooperation and achieving peace and development,” he said.

Meanwhile, Srettha, in his speech, said northern Malaysia and southern Thailand have been blessed with natural resources and good relations between the two countries.

He stated that many issues were discussed today, such as the Sungai Golok bridge, which will facilitate the economic development of Malaysia and Thailand.

“We discussed the special economic zone that we will work on together. Foreign ministers will meet next week to discuss the next steps, which we hope can be implemented to develop the halal food business and rubber plantations.

“This is the main area we are looking at,” he added. – August 3, 2024