YALA (Thailand): The move to resume the Hat Yai - Wakaf Bharu train service, halted some 20 years ago, is expected to boost economic growth at the Malaysia-Thai common border.
Thai Transport and Communications Minister Wan Mohd Noor Matta said the train service which resumed Sept 21 would also enhance bilateral relations between the two countries.
He told this to Malaysian reporters, who took part in the Proton/Kelantan Poverty Foundation (YKK) International Expedition, at a cultural show held at the Yala Municipal Council Hall recently.
Three hundred participants from Kota Bharu, Kelantan took part in the three-day event. The expedition toured Narathiwat, Yala, Songkla, Pattani and Haadyai.
The daily rail service leaves Hat Yai at 6 am (local time) and passes through Yala, Tanjong Mas, Sungai Padi and Sungai Golok before moving into the Kelantan towns of Rantau Panjang and Pasir Mas.
It arrives in Wakaf Bharu at 12.30 pm Malaysian time (11.30 am Thai time) before returning to Haadyai the same afternoon.
Wan Mohd Noor said the train service was stopped 20 years ago as it was rampantly used to smuggle rice.
"We decided to resume it as the rice smuggling activities between the two countries are under control," he said.
He said the resumption of the train service was a prelude to the Trans-Asia project which would link Singapore-Malaysia-Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam and China.
It was also part of the initial infrastructures for market expansion prior to the implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area in 2003, he said.
Wan Mohd Noor said Thailand was in the midst of constructing an efficient network of roads which would link its southern provinces and Malaysia.
He said Thailand would be happy to cooperate if Malaysia had plans to build two more bridges over the Sungai Golok, linking Tak Bai-Pengkalan Kubor in Tumpat and Bukit Tar-Bukit Bunga in Tanah Merah.
At present, a bridge links Rantau Panjang and Sungai Golok town while fare boats serve the Pengkalan Kubor and Tak Bai as well as Bukit Bunga and Bukit Tar.
There is also a ferry service between Pengkalan Kubor and Tak Bai.
Source: Utusan Malaysia | Front Page | 26 Sept. 2001 | Published on 27 Sept. 2001
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