NARATHIWAT: Construction of the second bridge connecting Rantau Panjang, Kelantan, and Sungai Golok here is progressing as planned, with the Thai authorities currently in the process of selecting a contractor to carry out the project.

Sungai Golok Highway Division assistant officer Teetuch Mad-adum (pic) said the contractor selection process is expected to be completed by September at the latest, in line with the timeline agreed upon by Malaysia and Thailand.

“We are confident that a suitable contractor will be identified by September, with the initial shortlist involving 10 companies,” he said.

Teetuch added that the six-lane bridge, which will be built parallel to the existing Muhibbah Bridge, is expected to have a significant impact on local economic development and further strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and Thailand.

“The purpose of this bridge is to widen the existing route. Once completed, it will improve the flow of economic activity and ease cross-border movement,” he said, adding that the completion of the bridge will also have an impact on nearby illegal jetties.

He said there had been no objections from local residents regarding the project, and all studies conducted so far indicated no negative impact.

“This bridge is being built specifically to stimulate economic growth, and the entire process has proceeded smoothly without any major obstacles,” he said, Bernama reported.

On financing, Teetuch said the construction cost would be shared by both countries, with Malaysia allocating RM17mil and Thailand RM32mil, which includes related infrastructure upgrades.

He added that construction is expected to begin as early as September, following the contractor selection, or by December at the latest, with completion targeted within 36 months.

Previously, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the project involves building a new 117.3m bridge parallel to the existing structure, along with upgrading works on the Muhibbah Bridge.

In April, the media reported that the Thai Cabinet had approved the construction of a second bridge across Sungai Golok.

Thailand is Malaysia’s seventh-largest global trading partner and the third-largest within Asean.

In 2024, bilateral trade between the two countries reached US$25.03bil (RM114.56bil).

For the period January to February 2025, trade increased to US$3.96bil (RM17.65bil), up from US$3.67bil (RM16.80bil) in the same period last year.