THAI DEAL ON BORDER OP
Operating hours will extend to 20 hours in September before going around the clock next year
THAILAND has agreed to Malaysia’s request to extend the border checkpoint operations here to 24 hours from next year. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his Thai counterpart, General Prawit Wongsuwon, had agreed to the proposal.
Zahid, who is also home minister, said for starters, the operations would be extended from 18 hours to 20 hours.
He said the new operating hours would begin by Sept 3, following the completion of the first phase of the new Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex.
“I must thank the Thai government for agreeing to our request to extend the border checkpoint operation to around the clock by Jan 1, 2019, after we complete the second phase of the new ICQS Complex. I am also happy to announce that the Thai government has agreed to extend the checkpoint operation to 20 hours this September.”
He was speaking after inspecting the new ICQS Complex site yesterday.
Present were Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah and Kubang Pasu member of parliament Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharum, who is also defence deputy minister.
It was Zahid’s second visit to the work site since April, after the government stepped in to end a dispute between two companies in a consortium involved in the project. Their dispute had delayed progress by nearly two years.
The project delay was 21 per cent complete when Zahid visited in April.
He said since then, the delay had been reduced to 9.5 per cent.
“I am monitoring the work on a weekly basis and the state government is assisting with the weekly report down to district level,” he said.
Asked whether he was happy with the progress made, he said he would be pleased only once the developer delivered Phase One of the complex this September.
“I have given the timeline for the developer to achieve the completion date, and besides the weekly report from the developer, officers from the Home Ministry will submit a report on the progress as well,” he said.
He said the traffic congestion at the checkpoint entrance had been reduced after the Customs Department opened more lanes for lorries from Thailand to enter here.
He said the government would ensure a smoother operation at the checkpoint once the new complex was completed by Dec 31 next year.
As for the shortage of parking space at the current complex, he had discussed the matter with Bashah and that it would be dealt with by the Kubang Pasu district office and the state government.