The Kelantan government estimates a cost of RM445.75 million for land acquisition in areas identified for the proposed construction of a border wall and buffer zone.

Kelantan Menteri Besar Mohd Nassuruddin Daud said the proposed security and flood control wall is crucial for the state’s economy.

He said Kelantan is serious about combating smuggling activities and addressing flooding issues along the 99km stretch of Sungai Golok.

“The construction of a border wall between Kelantan, Malaysia, and Thailand, particularly for national border security, is essential to curb cross-border crimes,” he said.

Nassuruddin (above) said this during an engagement session on the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) with the Kelantan government at Kompleks Kota Darulnaim today. Also present was Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.

Under scrutiny

Commenting on the matter, Rafizi said all national border development projects involving states in the north, Sabah and Sarawak are being scrutinised at his ministry’s level.

Rafizi Ramli

He said the government needs to create a development format and model first before any allocation is made.

“We need to develop a development format and model first, not only in Kelantan but all the bordering states. Only then can we determine the amount of allocation and how the border development will be implemented,” he said.

Yesterday, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the National Security Council would study the proposal for a border wall along the Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok stretch.

The decision on the border wall's construction would be finalised at the NSC level, he added.

On Nov 14, the Thai government welcomed Kelantan’s proposal to the federal government for the construction of a security and flood control wall along the Sungai Golok-Rantau Panjang border.

Narathiwat Governor Trakul Thotham was reported as saying that the wall would be a significant step towards combating cross-border crimes.

- Bernama

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