PADANG BESAR: The Home Ministry will work closely with the Perlis government to redevelop Wang Kelian infrastructures in preparation for the reopening of the free-flow zone, which has been closed since 2015.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said this initiative aligned with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's vision to rejuvenate economic activities at the Malaysia-Thailand border checkpoint.
Saifuddin said he has conveyed the federal government's commitment to the redevelopment to the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail, who expressed his full support.
"His Highness is very supportive to the proposal and decreed both the Home Ministry and state government need to work together and facilitate necessary approval process involving local authorities, Land and Mines Office and Environmental Impact Assessment," he said, during a work visit to the Wang Kelian border checkpoints.
Present at the work visit were Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli, MCBA director-general Datuk Seri Hazani Ghazali, Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ruji Ubi, and Perlis police chief Datuk Mohammad Abdul Halim.
Saifuddin said the redevelopment, scheduled for completion by 2026, would be funded by a RM30 million allocation from the federal government.
This includes an additional RM14 million announced by the prime minister during a recent visit, supplementing an earlier RM16 million allocation.
"The main component will the development if a new building to house all the agencies under MCBA followed by a four-lane inbound and four-lane outbound, as compared to the current single-lane each," he said.
The Home Minister assured that the economic revitalisation of Wang Kelian would not compromise national security.
He said stricter regulations will be implemented upon reopening the free-flow zone to maintain security while facilitating smooth mobility and trade.
"Upon studying the history of the free-flow lane, the inbound of Thai visitors and vehicles were higher compared to the outbound of Malaysian visitors and vehicles to Thailand.
"Once the new complex is completed, our priority is to improve the delivery system, secondly to facilitate people's mobility to ensure a seamless process while encouraging trade and business process," he said.
He added that the redevelopment of Wang Kelian will also include the upgrading of arcade located about 1.5 kilometers from the border checkpoint.
"We need to upgrade and create unique attraction for the arcade and the menteri besar has agreed to step up promotions for the arcade.
"This is one of the important aspect to contribute towards boosting the local economy," he said.