State Security Commission Acknowledged reports of problems with the opening of the new Sadao customs checkpoint. and prepare to write a letter to the government in order to coordinate with Malaysia Open both old and new checkpoints together to generate income for the country. Mr. Piyarat Jongthep, spokesman for the State Security Commission. Thai border affairs National Strategy and National Reform and the committee announced the results of the meeting which considered following up on progress and resolving concerns from the opening of the new Sadao customs checkpoint. by inviting relevant people to provide information As for the problem, it began with complaints from businesses in the Ban Dan Nok community area, Sadao District, Songkhla Province, out of concern over the news of the closure of the old Sadao customs checkpoint. The community's main source of income was originally from border trade. The border passers must pass through the Ban Dan Nok community before reaching the old Sadao Customs House. to cross the border into Malaysia If a new Sadao customs checkpoint is opened connected by a new motorway. together with the closing of the old Sadao customs checkpoint It will cause the Ban Dan Nok community to lose the ability to generate huge incomes. It is also a loss to the border economy of Thailand. The relevant agencies have explained their efforts in opening the new Sadao customs checkpoint to reduce congestion and increase border crossing capacity. which increases income into the country The Customs Department has good intentions and sees the problem of closing the old Sadao customs checkpoint. Therefore prepare and request a budget and additional manpower framework. To support the opening of both customs checkpoints simultaneously. But there are still limitations arising from negotiations with Malaysia that have not yet been clarified. and has not yet reached a conclusion on 2 issues, namely the issue of connection with the new Sadao customs checkpoint Due to the unavailability of infrastructure from the Malaysian side. And the issue that the Malaysian authorities confirmed that if a new Sadao customs checkpoint is opened, the Malaysian authorities will close the old customs checkpoint for security reasons. After questioning and considering the economic impacts that will occur on people in the area and Thailand, the committee has resolved as follows: The committee is of the opinion that the Thai government needs to negotiate with the Malaysian government with a clear stance on the need to open the two Sadao customs checkpoints simultaneously. And closing the old Sadao customs checkpoint is unacceptable. Because it will result in enormous economic loss to the people in the area and Thailand. The committee will prepare a letter with recommendations on the said problem to the Prime Minister. Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Finance as responsible person To achieve maximum benefit to the people The committee will continue to follow up on 2 issues: the issue of the history of the constructio n of the new Sadao customs checkpoint which, although completed since 2019, has no connection to the country's infrastructure. Malaysia and the issue of the results of negotiations for border cooperation at Sadao Customs House between Thailand and Malaysia. In addition, the committee intends to visit the area to follow up on issues regarding state security and border affairs along the Thai-Malaysian border in other locations before paying a courtesy visit and discussing with the Malaysian authorities on the next occasion. 314 .- Source: Thai News Agency