BANGKOK: A high level committee comprising officials from the Malaysian and Thai governments will hold a technical meeting in March in Kuala Lumpur to discuss details of constructing ‘friendship bridges’ at two Malaysia-Thai borders.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the status of the two bridges, from Tak Bai to Pengkalan Kubor; and Sungai Golok-Rantau Panjang, were discussed during her meeting with Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha during her maiden visit to the country.
She said the two countries had agreed to build the bridges in order to enhance border connectivity.
"Although the details, including cost and time frame for the project have yet to be discussed, both countries have agreed on a 50-50 cost sharing.
"There were also concerns over border security with the (implementation of) project. The Bukit Kayu Hitam army camp (for instance), might be relocated to make way for the project.
"This has yet to be decided and will be discussed further," she told a press conference after paying a courtesy call on Prayut and a bilateral meeting with her counterpart General Chatchai Sarikulya at the Government House.
Dr Wan Azizah said in order to aid border trade activities, the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine Security complex, which was previously open for 18 hours, would be open for 24 hours for heavy vehicles and business cargo from April 1.
She said a three-month trial period will be in place to monitor operations at the complex.
She said Thailand remains Malaysia's fifth biggest trading partner after China, Singapore, the United States and Japan; and the second largest in Asean, with total bilateral trade recorded at US$24.06 billion (about RM96.78 billion) between January and November 2018, compared to the same period in 2017 (US$20.98billion or RM90.55 billion).
Meanwhile, border trade through nine Malaysia-Thailand entries made up over 60 per cent or USD13.07 billion (RM15.04 billion) of the bilateral trade between January and September last year, which included consumer goods, manufactured goods and raw materials.
During the 25-minute meeting at the Government House, Dr Wan Azizah and Prayut discussed various matters concerning bilateral ties. Other issues discussed included transfer of technology for the agriculture sector, the peace talks in Southern Thailand and on sustainable development.
"I also conveyed the focus given by the Malaysian government to improve ties with Thailand to ensure that this would be the ‘golden era’ of Malaysia-Thailand relations," she said.
Also present were Malaysian Agriculture and Agro-based Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub; Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Marzuki Yahya, Malaysian ambassador to Thailand Datuk Jojie Samuel and Foreign Ministry deputy secretary-general Raja Datuk Nushirwan Zainal Abidin.
Dr Wan Azizah later attended a dinner hosted by Chatchai.
Earlier, Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Women, Family and Community Development minister, visited Thai Red Cross Children’s Home (TRCCH) and was briefed on the organisation's operation and facilities.
On Friday, she is scheduled to officiate the virtual launch of '7 MLD Reclamation Water Treatment Plant’, a joint venture project between Ranhill (Malaysia) and Amata Water Company Limited (Thailand) in Amata City Industrial Estate, Rayong, Thailand.
Her schedule includes attending a business roundtable meeting with 30 Thai businessmen who are members of Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and visiting Or Tor Kor Market run by Thailand's Marketing Organisation for Thailand's Farmers Marketing Organisation, an entity akin to Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama).