K’tan Urges Joint Action To Resolve Golok Students’ Cross-Border Education Issue

KOTA BHARU, Nov 21 (Bernama) -- The Education Ministry (MoE) and the Ministry of Home Affairs must jointly establish a mechanism to resolve the issue of students from Sungai Golok in Thailand attending schools in Rantau Panjang, Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan said.

He said this is essential to ensure the education of affected students is not disrupted.

“This border issue involves various federal agencies, but we (the state government) are prepared to cooperate to address issues arising at the Malaysia-Thailand border near the state.

“We do not want to disadvantage these students, but at the same time, we aim to combat smuggling activities along the state’s borders,” he told reporters after the Kelantan Budget 2025 presentation at the state assembly here today. 

He said the Kelantan government cannot act independently on border issues, as they involve not only the state but two countries.

On Nov 19, a local newspaper reported that nearly 500 students from Thailand cross Sungai Golok daily using illegal routes to attend school in Malaysia.

Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat was reported yesterday as saying that starting Dec 1, police will detain Malaysians using illegal routes to cross the Malaysia-Thailand border, especially along the Golok river.

Mohd Yusoff also said that authorities will enforce Section 5(2) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 to arrest Malaysians crossing into Thailand via unapproved routes.

— BERNAMA