Paetongtarn pushes Malaysia to act fast on floods and trade routes
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra made an urgent call to Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim, while in Berlin for the ITB 2025, pressing for swift action on flood relief in the Golok River basin and a key border infrastructure project that could boost trade between the two nations.
Speaking at 9am local time yesterday, March 6 (six hours behind Thailand), PM Paetongtarn stressed Thailand’s commitment to tackling severe flooding in the Golok River basin, which has long plagued communities along the border.
The Thai premier urged Malaysia to expedite the drafting of two key agreements: the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Integrated River Basin Management and the MOU on the Certification of Survey Results and Fixed Boundary Markers for Urgent Area 8.
These agreements, she stated, would lay the foundation for a systematic and sustainable solution to the crisis.
“Thailand is fully committed to solving this issue together with Malaysia to ease the suffering of people in the affected areas.”
Beyond flood management, the 38 year old PM pushed for the speedy completion of the new Sadao-Bukit Kayu Hitam border checkpoint, a project expected to enhance trade and travel between Thailand and Malaysia.
With Thailand’s side of the road due for completion in October, PM Paetongtarn called on Malaysia to ensure their portion stays on track to avoid delays in opening the vital new checkpoint.
In response, Anwar expressed gratitude for Thailand’s urgency, particularly in flood mitigation, energy cooperation, and strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties, reported Matichon.
With the Thai government prioritising regional connectivity and disaster prevention, these cross-border agreements could mark a major step forward—if Malaysia moves as swiftly as the Thai prime minister demands.
In similar news, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been tasked with proposing a cryptocurrency initiative for ASEAN in his role as a personal adviser to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the current ASEAN chair.
Citing the growing global interest in digital currencies, Thaksin urged the regional bloc to prioritise cryptocurrency adoption, especially as US President Donald Trump backs bitcoin and plans new regulations.
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