KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his Thai counterpart Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra have agreed to hold a joint cabinet meeting later this year at the Sadao-Bukit Kayu Hitam border, where they will also officiate the opening of a new cross-border road.
The decision was reached during a phone call yesterday, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to ending violence in Thailand’s southern provinces and jointly developing the border region.
“We agreed to attend the opening of the new transborder road linking the new Sadao-Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoints and to hold a joint cabinet meeting there later this year,” Paetongtarn said on her official X account.
She added that both sides also discussed bolstering Asean cooperation in light of global trade challenges, as well as humanitarian efforts and peace restoration in Myanmar.
“I will continue discussions with Prime Minister Anwar during the Asean Leaders’ Summit later this month in Kuala Lumpur,” she said.
The two leaders last met during Anwar’s working visit to Thailand in April, where they witnessed the signing of an MoU for the Rantau Panjang-Sungai Kolok Bridge Project aimed at enhancing cross-border connectivity.
Economic ties between the neighbours remain strong. Thailand was Malaysia’s third-largest Asean trading partner in 2024, with total trade reaching US$25.03 billion (RM114.56 billion). Trade between January and February 2025 rose to US$3.96 billion (RM17.65 billion), up from US$3.67 billion (RM16.80 billion) a year earlier.
Malaysia and Thailand are working to enhance its connectivity via rail as they are set to revive a direct passenger and cargo rail service between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok using existing tracks.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said this month that KTM and the State Railway of Thailand had been given three months to prepare for the service, which could significantly boost tourism and regional trade.
Loke also welcomed Thailand’s proposal to extend rail links from Sungai Golok into Malaysia via Rantau Panjang and Pasir Mas, although he noted that track restoration would be required before operations could resume. – May 9, 2025