Press Release 

 

TWENTY FIFTH MEETING 

OF THE JOINT THAILAND - MALAYSIA

LAND BOUNDARY COMMITTEE

 

BANGKOK, THAILAND

31 JULY - 2 AUGUST 2018

 

 

1. The Twenty Fifth Meeting of the Joint Thailand - Malaysia Land Boundary Committee was held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 31 July - 2 August 2018. The Thai Delegation was led by Mr. Vasin Teeravechyan, Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is also the Chairman of the Thai National Land Boundary Committee and the Malaysian Delegation was led by Dato’ Dr. Tan Yew Chong, Secretary General, Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources, who is also the Chairman of the Malaysian National Land Boundary Committee.

 

2. The Twenty Fifth Meeting of the Joint Malaysia – Thailand Land Boundary Committee accomplished in carrying out the work tasked by the Prime Ministers during the 6th Annual Consultation held on 9 September 2016 in Bangkok, by adopting two documents namely the Guidelines for Distance Requirement in Carrying Out Unilateral Development Projects Located Near the Thailand - Malaysia International Boundary and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the construction and maintenance of a single barrier at Dannok / Bukit Kayu Hitam common border.

 

3. The Meeting endorsed the Guidelines for Distance Requirement in Carrying Out Unilateral Development Projects Located Near the Thailand - Malaysia International Boundary and agreed that it would become effective as guidelines on 2nd November 2018. Furthermore, the Meeting also agreed that the Guidelines be forwarded to all relevant authorities of both sides as a reference in carrying out any unilateral development projects located near the Thailand - Malaysia international boundary to avoid any encroachment issues in the future.

 

4. Both Chairmen of the National Land Boundary Committee signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the construction and maintenance of a Single Barrier at Dannok - Bukit Kayu Hitam common border. The MOU aims at promoting cooperation to improve border security management, to curb cross and trans-border issues such as human trafficking, smuggling of migrants, illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and smuggling of illegal goods. Each side informed the Meeting of its respective Chairman of the Joint Sub-Committee on Construction and Maintenance (JSCCM). The Meeting agreed that the related agencies from Thailand and Malaysia carry out the necessary preparation of budgeting and planning for the construction and other related works as laid out in the Terms of Reference (TOR) attached to the said MOU. 

 

5. The Meeting discussed the draft MOU/Agreement between the Government of The Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of Malaysia on the Fixed and Permanent International Boundary of Areas VIIIA, VIIIB, VIIIC and VIIID along Sungai Golok and the draft map no.12 and agreed that the Secretariat of the Joint Thailand - Malaysia Land Boundary Committee continue the discussion to finalise the said MOU/Agreement and present it to the Meeting of the Land Boundary Committee for consideration.

 

 

6. The Meeting was held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere in the spirit of close traditional ties and cooperation between the two countries.

 

7. The Malaysian Delegation expressed their sincere gratitude to the Thai Government and the Thai Delegation and officers concerned for their warm hospitality and thanked them for making such excellent arrangements for the Meeting.

 

8. Both sides agreed that the next Meeting of the Joint Malaysia - Thailand Land Boundary Committee will be held in Malaysia, the exact date and venue to be communicated through correspondence.