View Full Version : Malay-Thai Border Issues
This measure was for Thais and Malaysians who who don't have a passport or who don't want to be bothered to present papers everytime they go on a simple shopping expedition. It also helps those with relatives just across the border a bit more freedom to visit each other legally. The situation for farangs at border crossings like Wang Prachan-Wang Kelian used to be that they didn't mind you strolling across to the nearest market, as long as you made no attempt to approach the ever-present checkpoint further down the road. They might just ask to take a look at your passport at the border gate, but it wouldn't be stamped:
November 30, 2007 19:42 PM
Government Reconsidering Passport-free Weekend Visits At Border
WANG KELIAN, Nov 30 (Bernama) -- The government may do away with the passport-free weekend visits by Malaysians and Thais to the border markets here and in Wang Prachan in Thailand for security reasons.
Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum said Friday he would ask the Immigration Department to reconsider the relaxation, which had been in force for more than 10 years.
There was no reason for Malaysians to enter Thailand without valid travel documents, he told reporters after a visit to the security post here. Earlier, he visited the border town of Padang Besar.
He said Malaysians and Singaporeans used travel documents to travel across the Johor Causeway separating the two countries.
Mohd Johari said it was feared that some people might take advantage of the passport-free visits to remain longer in the country, and added that insufficient control at the border could encourage smuggling activities as well.
-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/
Loy Krathong may go big
TUMPAT: Loy Krathong, one of the traditional festivals held by the local Thai community, will soon be celebrated as a national event as part of efforts to boost tourism in the country.
Visit Malaysia Year secretariat chief Hashimah Nik Jaafar said the recommendation was made by the Kelantan Tourism Action Council (KTAC).
“We are waiting for the proposal paper by the council before making a decision.
“It is in its final stage and would be handed over to us soon.
“The plan is good as the Loy Krathong festival can be celebrated on a grander scale if it is identified as a national event,” she said in a recent interview.
Loy Krathong is celebrated annually throughout Thailand.
In Malaysia, it is celebrated by the small Thai community in Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Kelantan.
“Loy” means to float. “Krathong” is a raft about a handspan in diameter .
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/National/20071206082525/Article/index_html
A rather strange article on the eve of the opening of the 2nd Thai-Malaysia Bridge:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?p=18824#post18824
I'm told that local people have partly alleviated this problem by selling more Malaysian items on the Thai (Satun Province, Wang Prachan) side of the border:
January 09, 2008 23:25 PM
Removal Of No-document Entry At Wang Kelian For Security Reason
PUTRAJAYA, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- The government's decision to do away with the no-document entry but to introduce thumbprint scanning as an added measure is solely for security reason.
Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh said residents of four bordering states -- Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Kelantan -- with Thailand were given border passes at the checkpoints while other visitors must use their international passports to get across.
"Similarly in Thailand, people in the bordering districts can be given border passes by the Thai authorities to get across to the Malaysian side
"Everyone must understand that this is done for security reason," he told reporters after chairing a post-Cabinet meeting here Wednesday.
From Jan 1, the Immigration Department, on the directive of the Internal Security Ministry, requires all visitors to use their travel documents to go to the Wang Kelian-Wang Prachan day market.
However, the Perlis government is appealing to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, as the Internal Security Minister, that entry without travel documents agreed upon by the Thai and Malaysian governments 14 years ago, be allowed to continue.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said from information received from the authorities at the border checkpoint, the crime rate at Wang Kelian was the lowest in the state.
-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/
2008/01/14
Border pass now a must for weekend travel
By : Adib Povera
JITRA: From next month, those who want to go to the Wang Kelian-Wang Prachan market at the Perlis-Thai border during the weekend must have border passes.
Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum said yesterday the decision to stop the weekend document-free travel between Wang Kelian, Perlis, and Wang Prachan, Thailand, was made for security reasons.
At present, Malaysians going to Wang Prachan and Thais entering Wang Kelian need to carry border passes during weekdays, but this ruling is not enforced during weekends.
When Mohd Johari first proposed the use of border passes for weekend trips from Jan 1, there were howls of protest.
Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim appealed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Mohd Johari said the measure was also aimed at people entering and remaining in the country illegally.
"Irresponsible people would take advantage knowing that they would not be stopped to have their travel documents checked during weekends," he said.
"People would also smuggle in contraband like drugs, firecrackers or weapons.
"Thus, the move is necessary in preserving the security and safety of the people as well as the country."
Mohd Johari said the Thai authorities had welcomed the move.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/National/2131524/Article/index_html
2008/06/04
Gotcha!
http://www.nst.com.my/Wednesday/National/20080604093858/insidepix1
[Photo: [I]NST[/} - Shahidi Shahidan]
Three small-time smugglers (circled), better known as 'ant soldiers' or 'tentera semut' in the north, are caught red-handed on closed-circuit television cameras installed by the National Security Council along the Perlis-Thailand border.
They had cut through the barbed wire fence at Chuping in Padang Besar to move the smuggled goods between Malaysia and Thailand.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/National/20080604093858/Article/index_html
August 12, 2008 11:18 AM
Attempt To Smuggle Old Newspapers To Thailand Foiled
TUMPAT, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- General Operations Force (GOF) personnel have foiled an attempt to smuggle across to Thailand old newspapers valued at RM48,500.
The GOF personnel intercepted the bid following a raid on a warehouse in Kampung Nibong here yesterday, GOF Battalion 7 commanding officer Supt Mohd Kashim Mohd Ram said Tuesday.
He said several GOF personnel on patrol along the Sungai Golok noticed several men loading bundles of old newspapers onto a boat moored near the warehouse and decided to investigate.
The men, on seeing the approaching GOF personnel, fled in their boat across the river to Thailand, he told reporters here.
Mohd Kashim said five men believed to be Thai nationals working at the warehouse also fled on seeing the GOF personnel.
The GOF personnel found 97 more bundles of old newspapers, each valued at RM500, in the warehouse.
-- BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state_news/news.php?id=352169&cat=et
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