KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 — Malaysia has proposed that Thailand involve the private sector and startups in establishing special economic zones (SEZ) to attract more investment.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the proposal was presented to Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa during a courtesy call yesterday.
“Their involvement (private firms and startups) can attract more investment into the SEZ. I also suggest Kelantan take the opportunity to build business spaces along the Sungai Golok,” he said in a Facebook post today.
During the meeting, they discussed the results of his working visit with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to Sungai Golok and Rantau Panjang on Saturday.
The working visit saw the leaders discuss the rubber sector and the food industry.
In the same post, Anwar said he and Maris discussed dredging the Sungai Golok estuary to mitigate floods and help communities along the border of the two countries that are inundated almost every year.
Anwar also expressed Malaysia’s commitment to the Southern Thailand Peace Dialogue Process.
“Both countries have agreed for Malaysia to host the seventh Annual Consultation on September 19, 2024,” the prime minister said.
He had previously expressed Malaysia’s commitment to expedite peace talks.
Malaysia is a facilitator for peace talks to end decades of conflict, that culminated in January 2004, in the southern provinces of Narathiwat, Yala, Pattani and parts of Songkhla.
Former National Security Council director-general Datuk Mohd Rabin Basir was named new Malaysian Government Facilitator for the Southern Thailand Peace Dialogue Process, effective July 1.
— Bernama
