Famous Goloi river that acts as border between Rantau Panjang and Thailand's golok.
KOTA BARU: The decision to expedite the construction of the second bridge connecting Rantau Panjang in Kelantan and Sungai Golok in Thailand has sparked excitement among locals, who see it as a tremendous opportunity for business and economic growth.
Mukim Lubok Gong village head Syed Abu Bakar Syed Mat Nor said expediting the construction of the bridge would bring numerous benefits to the people, including enhanced trade activities between the two countries, especially in the special economic zone border area.
“Efforts to accelerate the construction of this bridge can stimulate business activities through the sale of halal food products, fruits, clothing and souvenirs.
“Once the project is completed, it will undoubtedly provide advantages in terms of better business opportunities,” he said, Bernama reported.
On Sunday, Malaysia and Thailand had agreed to expedite the construction of the second Sungai Golok-Rantau Panjang bridge.
The decision came following a working visit by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim along with his Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin to Sungai Golok.
The project, which was initially scheduled to start in April next year and would have taken two years to complete, is now expected to be ready by the end of 2026, earlier than the initial 2027 completion date.
According to Syed Abu Bakar, the bridge’s quick completion should also reduce traffic congestion in the area, which frequently happens on weekends and peak tourist periods.
“Every Friday and Saturday, as well as during school holidays, congestion can last up to three hours due to the availability of only one lane from Rantau Panjang to Sungai Golok,” he said.
During the same visit, both countries also agreed to expedite the development and cleaning of the Sungai Golok estuary, which is expected to help in flood mitigation.
Rantau Panjang flood committee chairman Nor Hisyam Abdullah said efforts to excavate and clean up Sungai Golok and address disasters in the area are the right steps to take.
“Given that the water level has decreased due to it being shallow, excavating and cleaning up the river to ensure there are no blockages to impede water flow is the most appropriate action,” he said.
According to Nor Hisyam, the embankments in Kampung Gual To’ Deh, Tersang, Padang Licin, and Serongga are the areas most affected by flooding.
