KOTA BARU: The construction of the second Muhibbah (Friendship) Bridge between Sungai Golok in Thailand and Rantau Panjang near here is expected to enhance transportation, border security and tourism between Malaysia and Thailand.
Narathiwat Vice-Governor (border security division) Wichan Chaisetsumpan said the project will see the construction of new public amenities, such as a covered pedestrian walkway and motorcycle lanes.
He added the additional vehicle lanes would help ease congestion and improve cross-border movement.
Wichan said the project, a joint undertaking between Thailand and Malaysia under the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) and the Japan Development Support (JDS) framework, marked a new milestone in cross-border cooperation.
“Malaysia had first conducted a feasibility study for the bridge in 2008, proposing the construction of an additional twin bridge to increase border-crossing capacity.
“In 2023, the bridge recorded an average of 17,444 vehicles per day. Given the close distance between the existing bridge and both border checkpoints, space for parking and immigration inspection areas has become insufficient.
“Under the project, both governments will manage their respective procurement and funding processes, coordinated through Thailand’s Ministry of Transport and Malaysia’s Public Works Department,” he added.
Wichan said the Thai cabinet had approved a budget of RM23.2 million on April 8, followed by the signing of an intergovernmental construction agreement on April 17.
Malaysia, he said, which allocated RM17.3 million for the project, would handle the tendering process, which began in September.
Wichan added the bridge design, completed by Malaysia and submitted to Thailand in July, featured a T-beam girder structure with two traffic lanes, spanning 116 metres in length and 10 metres in width.
“Supporting infrastructure on the Malaysian side will include an asphaltic concrete surface road (approximately 80 metres), while Thailand will construct a continuous reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) road section (around 100 metres),” he said.
He added additional works included architectural enhancements, electrical systems, pedestrian walkways and other support facilities.
“The Songkhla Highway Construction Centre will oversee preliminary service road works, while the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has granted initial approval for the use of nearby land.
“Discussions are underway to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for land utilisation,” he said.
He added that once completed, the second Muhibbah Bridge is expected to stimulate trade, logistics and tourism, further strengthening economic connectivity between Kelantan and Narathiwat.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in April had expressed his appreciation to his former counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra for helping to realise the construction project of the second Rantau Panjang–Sungai Golok bridge.
During the meeting, the two prime ministers also witnessed the signing of an agreement for the construction of the second bridge connecting Rantau Panjang in Malaysia and Sungai Golok in the southern Thai province of Narathiwat.
The agreement also covers upgrading works for the first bridge.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
