On 17 June 2019, at 23.00 hrs. H.E. Mr. Chaisiri Anamarn, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and Dato’ Marzuki Yahya, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, co-officiated the Launching Ceremony of the 24-hour Operation of Sadao Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) checkpoint in Songkhla province, Thailand and Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) checkpoint in Kedah state, Malaysia.

At the normal closing time of both checkpoints, the Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia officiated the Gate-Opening Ceremony and waved flags to allow lorries from both sides to pass through the border. This marked the inauguration of the checkpoint’s 24-hour operation. Prior to this new arrangements, the operation hour of CIQ Sadao and ICQS Bukit Kayu Hitam was from 05.00 hrs until 23.00 hrs. (Thai local time). The 3-month trial period for the 24-hour operation will last from 17 June until 16 September 2019. Only lorries and trailers will be allowed to cross the border during the extended hours, with only the driver and an assistant permitted to be on board.

The launching of 24-hour operation of CIQ Sadao – ICQS Bukit Kayu Hitam is one of the concrete outcomes from the meeting between H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand and Tun Dr. Mahathir Bin Muhammad, Prime Minister of Malaysia, during the latter’s official visit to Thailand last October. This will be the first time for Thailand to open its border around-the-clock to facilitate cross-border trade flows and shipment with its neighbour. It is hoped that this new arrangement will further promote economic development and the well-being of the peoples in southern Thailand and northern Malaysia.