Malaysia Constructs Tourist Site on its Border with Thailand

A new tourist site will be constructed by Malaysia on its border with Thailand.The new tourist development will be located in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah. Bukit Kayu Hitam is at the northern tip of the North-South Expressway of Malaysia which links the border with Thailand to Singapore at Johor Bahru in Johor state.

According to Thai Tourism Department around 1.33 million Malaysians came to Thailand in the first half of this year, a 14% increase from the same period in 2012.Most Malaysians visited Thailand through the Sa Dao checkpoint to Hat Yai city in Songkhla.

Bukit Kayu Hitam currently has a duty-free shopping centre operated by Quintmas Sdn Bhd, but the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) of Malaysia plans to add more attractions to the 283 hectare (2.83 square kilometre) site near Changlun town, the government’s Bernama news agency reported.

According to Mohd Johari Baharun, special advisor to the Malaysian prime minister, the project will attract Thais across the border to spend money in Malaysia, and will create jobs for locals.The timetable for the completion of the new development at Bukit Kayu Hitam has not been unveiled, but the work will be contracted out to the private sector.

“We will hold discussions with the management of the free trade zone, government agencies and local leaders soon on these projects,” Mr Mohd Johari said.Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) chief executive Redza Rafiq Abdul Razak said the private sector is well placed to carry out the work.”It is the best approach to develop Bukit Kayu Hitam, as the private sector had been successful in investing in rural development,” he told Bernama.