TUMPAT: Locals took opportunity of the border reopening to cross over to Tak Bai town today after almost two years of not being able to visit the Thai sub-province.
The visitors, mostly from Tumpat and nearby areas, went to the border town for shopping or visiting their relatives there.
The volume of visitors, however, was smaller compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic struck Malaysia and Thailand.
A visitor, who only wanted to be known as Mek Dam, said she went to Tak Bai town with her son this morning to visit a relative there.
"It has been more than two years since I last crossed over to the sub-province to meet my relatives there.
"I was informed that one of my relatives was not well last week and today, I got the chance to visit him," said the 36-year- old who is from Kampung Bunuhan.
Checks at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complex here this morning showed that locals had started to cross over as early as 9am.
Many were seen making their border passes at the first floor of the complex before heading to the jetty where a ferry was ready to sent them to Tak Bai.
Kelantan's three lCQS Complexes were fully reopened last Thursday for both commercial and social visit passes after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Previously, the ICQS at Rantau Panjang was only opened for commercial vehicles.
Malaysian travellers, however, must follow the standard operating procedures (SOP) set by Thai authorities when entering the kingdom, while locals must obey the SOPs set by the Health Ministry.