KOTA BARU: Thailand is hoping that the closure of over 40 illegal jetties along the Golok River bordering Malaysia will prevent illegal crossings and smuggling activities between both countries.
Commander of the Fourth Division Royal Thai Army Lt. Gen. Piyawat Narkvanich said the illegal jetties, mostly bordering Kelantan and Sungai Golok town in particular, were closed by Malaysian authorities several months ago.
"Thai authorities hope that the move, which also follows a strengthening in security measures by our army and police along the Malaysia/Thai border, will put a stop to illegal activities which mostly happen along the rat routes," he said in a statement today.
On the “Set Zero” programme, Piyawat said it is too early to say whether it has received strong feedback from Thai citizens living in Malaysia.
"We just launched the project early this month and are planning to bring back more than 2,000 of our citizens and their families who fled to Malaysia following the bombing attacks in Thailand's southern parts. Hopefully, we will get the feedback soon," he said.
Piyawat said the programme is similar to the “Come Back Home” campaign which was introduced a few years ago and managed to persuade between 3,000 and 4,000 people to return to their hometowns.
He said the Thai government is concerned over the plight of its citizens in Malaysia, especially children with neither Malaysian nor Thai identification, and is urging them to return so that their health and education would be seen to by the government.
Thousands of Thais from three southern provinces – Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani – fled to northern Malaysia following a violent unrest which began in 2004.