Thousands of Malaysians continue to visit southern Thailand despite safety warnings, says Kelantan police chief

KOTA BHARU, June 14 — Driven by the allure of an ‘overseas holiday,’ thousands of Malaysians have been ignoring safety warnings and queuing for hours to enter southern Thailand, especially during festive seasons and school holidays.

Revealing this concerning trend, Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said that daily observations at the state’s three official entry points (ICQS Complexes) — Rantau Panjang in Pasir Mas, Pengkalan Kubor in Tumpat, and Bukit Bunga in Tanah Merah — have recorded extremely high cross-border traffic.

He said that on normal days, an estimated 3,000 people cross the border, while the figure rises to more than 4,000 during weekends.

According to him, when school holidays arrive, the number increases significantly, reaching between 6,000 and 7,000 people per day.

“Overall, the total number of entries and exits involving border passes or passports can reach as high as 10,000 people in a single day. We continuously advise the public that the situation there (in southern Thailand) is difficult to predict.

“No one knows when or where a bombing or shooting incident might occur. The travel advisory issued by the Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) last year remains in effect, yet many people appear unconcerned and are still willing to queue for hours,” he told Bernama recently.

Commenting on the factors drawing visitors to the troubled region, he said that, in his personal view, Kelantan still lacks sufficiently attractive tourist destinations or family recreation spots to encourage locals to spend their holidays within the state.

He added that the public’s fascination with the notion of an overseas holiday also plays a significant role.

“Many people seem to regard any trip that earns them a passport stamp as an overseas holiday, even though the destination is just across the border and separated only by a river.

“Financial considerations are another factor behind the growing trend. The favourable exchange rate of the neighbouring country’s currency makes people feel they can spend more freely there,” he said.

He added that many locals are willing to cross the border for relatively simple reasons, such as seeking out authentic Thai cuisine, strolling through night markets, or even buying viral snacks from Thailand’s 7-Eleven stores before returning home the same day.

Meanwhile, Mohd Yusoff suggested that the state government and relevant stakeholders consider transforming border towns such as Rantau Panjang by adopting the development model used in Padang Besar, Perlis, as part of a two-pronged strategy to reduce the outflow of Malaysian currency.

He said developing a well-organised commercial complex incorporating a rest and service (R&R) concept could attract domestic tourists without requiring them to cross the border.

Citing Perlis as an example, Mohd Yusoff said the R&R shopping complex there, with its attractive retail outlets, has successfully drawn Thai traders to market utility goods, clothing and authentic food products legally on the Malaysian side of the border.

“If Kelantan can replicate this model, we can not only attract foreign tourists to visit the state, but also discourage our people from crossing the border simply to visit night markets or go shopping. After all, our culinary culture is not that different from theirs,” he said.

Mohd Yusoff also dismissed claims by certain parties that the police’s stricter border controls were to blame for the decline in business activity at the Rantau Panjang and Pengkalan Kubor Duty-Free Zones.

He stressed that the economic downturn in both border towns had begun well before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The post-pandemic period has seen a drastic shift in consumer behaviour, with many people now preferring to purchase Thai products online,” he said.

Given that the rise of e-commerce has undermined traditional brick-and-mortar businesses, he said border towns could no longer rely on conventional retail models and instead needed to reinvent themselves. This could include developing hubs for viral products, food and popular snacks, including those commonly associated with Thailand’s 7-Eleven stores.

“Rantau Panjang should be viewed as a destination in its own right and given a new lease of life. Establish attractive retail outlets and bring in the products that people seek from Thailand. That is the best solution for revitalising the local economy,” he said. — Bernama