Malaysia and Thailand seek to revive border area with bridge and rail upgrade

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says both countries will work towards a comprehensive peace plan for their border region

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Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra speak in a joint press conference in Putrajaya on Monday. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:48pm, 16 Dec 2024Updated: 6:24pm, 16 Dec 2024

The prime ministers of Thailand and Malaysia agreed on Monday to build bridges, roads and rail links in an attempt to spur economic growth and revive communities living in their restive border zone.

For years, insurgents, drug traffickers and smugglers have carried out illegal activities in the forested areas at the border.

Malaysia has mediated talks between Thailand and the Malay-Muslim insurgents, who have fought a bloody 20-year rebellion seeking autonomy from the Thai state. Thailand colonised the southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani over a century ago, forcing the majority-Muslim population in the region to assimilate into the country.

Bangkok has asked Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to revive the peace process through economic development of Thailand’s impoverished southern region, where many share close family and cultural ties with Malaysia’s northern states of Kelantan and Kedah.

Both countries have proposed building new roads, rail lines and bridges to help drive trade and tourism.

“We will do whatever is necessary for the dialogue process with the southern border provinces of Thailand to materialise, and to then resolve towards a joint comprehensive plan towards peace,” Anwar told a press conference in Putrajaya alongside his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Monday.