Anwar: Golok River mouth widening project to cut flood risk, talks with Thailand to wrap up within a month

KOTA BHARU, Oct 31 — Malaysia and Thailand are expected to finalise negotiations on the Golok River mouth widening project within a month to reduce flood risks in Kelantan and southern Thailand.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he had held two rounds of talks with the Thai government, including with his counterpart Anutin Charnvirakul, to expedite the implementation of the project.

He said widening and deepening the river mouth was among the key measures to mitigate the impact of floods affecting areas in both countries.

“I hope to resume negotiations within this month to finalise the matter. There has already been progress between the Malaysian and Thai governments,” he said when speaking at the Kelantan State Entrepreneur Revival Scheme Launch Ceremony here today.

Also present was Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud. 

The Prime Minister said close cooperation between the two countries was important to ensure the issue could be resolved effectively, thereby benefiting residents in Kelantan and southern Thailand.

He said good relations with neighbouring countries were important not only in terms of trade, but also in addressing cross-border issues that required joint solutions.

On the flood situation in Kelantan, Anwar gave an assurance that the Federal Government would continue to assist the state in implementing flood mitigation projects, despite the substantial allocations required due to high construction costs.

He said the matter had been discussed with the Kelantan Menteri Besar to facilitate an integrated approach through close cooperation between the state and Federal governments, thereby reducing the impact of floods on the people and the state’s development.

In this regard, Anwar said the government planned to develop the area around the Rantau Panjang Bridge to give the locality a new look through development projects planned in collaboration with the state government.

The Prime Minister stressed that the success of the initiative required firm commitment from both sides, particularly in expediting land acquisition matters.

In this regard, he expressed his appreciation to Kelantan State Secretary Datuk Dr Tengku Mohamed Faziharudean Tengku Feissal for helping to expedite the necessary processes to facilitate the implementation of the development project.

“We are also taking this opportunity to develop the area around the Rantau Panjang Bridge. My thanks to the State Secretary for expediting land acquisition and other related matters so that we can proceed with the project, with the hope of giving Rantau Panjang a new look and bringing progress to the area,” he said.

Anwar said the development was among the government’s efforts to drive socioeconomic growth in the border area, in addition to addressing issues related to the mouth of the Golok River. — Bernama