Uplifting cross-border livelihoods

The Star

2 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Closer cooperation between Thailand and Malaysia has continued to uplift livelihoods in Thailand's southern border region through poverty alleviation programmes, infrastructure improvements and cross-border community initiatives.
The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) is spearheading these efforts in collaboration with Malaysian agencies, targeting development in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Satun, areas affected by unrest and limited economic opportunities.
SBPAC secretary-general Pol Lt-Col Wannapong Kotcharak said the collaboration aligns with the shared goals of both nations to uplift communities, strengthen local economies and foster long-term peace through grassroots development initiatives.
'Our main responsibility is to ensure people in this region can lead better, more secure lives.
'We are committed to doing everything possible to improve their livelihoods,' he told Bernama in an exclusive interview at the SBPAC headquarters in Yala recently.
According to Wannapong, several key infrastructure projects have been carried out in partnership with Malaysia.
This includes efforts to modernise the Sadao checkpoint to meet the standards of Bukit Kayu Hitam, as well as the construction of a second bridge linking Sungai Golok and Rantau Panjang in Kelantan to enhance cross-border trade and mobility.
He said the two countries had also launched a Twin City programme last year to enhance cooperation between five southern provinces in Thailand and five northern states in Malaysia, namely Narathiwat with Kelantan, Songkhla with Kedah, Yala with Perak, Satun with Perlis, and Pattani with Terengganu.
'This is one of our most important strategies. The twin city programme focuses on education, social development, tourism and halal food industries... all relevant to our regions' cultures and economies,' Wannapong said.
He also said educational and skills development programmes, including a shared curriculum, have been designed to improve vocational training and job opportunities, especially for border-area youth, as both countries share cultural identity and common aspirations.
'That's why the (Thai) government is working closely with Malaysia to find more ways of collaboration.
'Recently, we visited Penang and held activities. Our strategy is to use tourism, education and community development to bring our people closer,' he said.
According to Thailand's 2019 Targeted People Development Database, there were 52,117 poor households comprising 107,356 people in the five southern provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Satun and Songkhla.
SBPAC has now implemented the second phase of its development plan (2024-2027), based on the royal initiative 'Understand, Access, Develop' and the sufficiency economy model, aimed at improving living standards in the region.
Meanwhile, the re-establishment of the Advisory Council for the Administration and Development to SBPAC this year reflects the Thai government's commitment to prioritising the people in the development process in the southern region.
Its chairman Dr Khodari Sen said the council, which consists of 49 members from various professional backgrounds in the five regions, has been reactivated after being dissolved in 2014.
'This council is not an NGO but a government agency that gives the people an opportunity to raise their problems directly without having to go through government channels,' he said.
Khodari said that any development initiatives in southern Thailand involving cooperation with Malaysia must first secure approval from the advisory council to ensure they align with the needs and priorities of the local community.
He added that the strength of ties between both countries lies in their shared culture, halal industries, Islamic education system and local economic activities, which continue to promote prosperity and mutual benefit for the people of both nations.