Thailand to build another bridge to Malaysia

The Thai government has reiterated its plan to build a new bridge over the narrow Golok River, which will serve as another border crossing. The Thai and Malaysian governments hope that the bridge, which will connect Sungai Golok district in Narathiwat province to Kelantan in Malaysia, will boost tourism and trade ties between the bordering countries.

The new bridge will be the third bridge built over the river. It will join “Harmony Bridge,” which is also in the Sungai Golok district and connects to Rantau Panjang in Malaysia. The second bridge to be built over the river links Bukit Bunga town in Malaysia with Buketa village in the Waeng district of Narathiwat.

In August, Thailand’s Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and his Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah agreed to step up infrastructure at the border to assist in achieving their bilateral trade goal of US$30 billion by 2025.

Both ministers expressed their hopes to expedite the construction of a road connecting the customs complexes of Bukit Kayu Hitam and Sadao, which they say will be essential for improving trade links between Malaysia and Thailand.

The two countries also considering the construction of a fourth bridge connecting Pengkalan Kubor in Malaysia to Tak Bai district in Narathiwat province, but an area assessment and topographic survey will have to be undertaken before discussions can move forward further.

The new bridge aims to facilitate seamless travel between the two countries at the land border. In July, Malaysians made up the largest portion of foreign arrivals in Thailand, mostly arriving by the land border in Songkhla province. Malaysia is still a popular location among Thai travellers, but Singaporeans take up the N0.1 spot for foreign arrivals in Malaysia.

The narrow river separating Thailand and Malaysia makes it easy for local Thais and Malaysians to sneak across as they please, which is why Sungai Golok is a notorious party town when the sun goes down.

In June, a Malaysian man snuck across the river to attend an illegal cockfighting match. His cock won the fight, but the man’s luck soon changed when he got shot on his way back to Malaysia. Scared of the authorities, the man swam back across the river to receive medical treatment in Malaysia.

The 50 baht shuttle train which connects Hat Yai in Songkhla to Padang Besar resumed services in July after most Covid-19 entry restrictions in both countries were lifted. The train costs only 50 baht (7 Malaysian ringgits) and takes one hour, making travel between Malaysia and Thailand via train a viable and convenient option for tourists.

SOURCE: VNA