Thai - Malaysian Friendship Bridge To Be Completed This Year

[Jai Dee]

PM says construction of Thai-Malaysian Friendship Bridge will be completed this year

The Prime Minister (นายกรัฐมนตรี), Gen. (พลเอก) Surayud Chulanont (สุรยุทธ์ จุลานนท์), has expressed his confidence (มั่นใจ) that the construction of the Thai-Malaysian Friendship Bridge (สะพานมิตรภาพระหว่างไทยและมาเลเซีย) will be completed (เสร็จ) by the end of this year (ภายในปีนี้).

Gen. Surayud gave an interview on the Open Phitsanulok House (เปิดบ้านพิษณุโลก) program (รายการ) on government-owned television and radio this morning (August 25th) in the southern border province (จังหวัด) of Narathiwat (นราธิวาส).

The Prime Minister followed up on the construction progress of the Thai-Malaysian Friendship Bridge during his visit to Narathiwat, and he had a discussion on this issue with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Gen. Surayud says over 50 percent of the bridge has been constructed. However, the construction on the Thai side previously encountered some problems, but adjustments have been made with the contractors.

Prime Minister Surayud believes the construction is expected to be completed before the end of this year, and says the bridge will become a transport link between Thailand and Malaysia.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 August 2007

[Jai Dee]

Thai PM inspects 2nd Thai-Malaysian bridge

Thai Prime Minister Gen. Surayud Chulanont Friday inspected construction progress of the second Thai-Malaysian bridge in this southernmost province, stressing that the span should be completed by yearend to mark the 50th anniversary of Thai-Malay relations.

The bridge links Bukit Bunga in Malaysia's northern state of Kelantan with Ban Buketa in Narathiwat's Weng district.

Foundation piles are being driven and some piers are being built on the Thai side while land clearance on the Malaysian side is about 80 per cent complete.

The agreement to build the bridge was signed in early 2005. The cost of construction is estimated at US$2 million, with both countries agreeing to share the expense equally.

Gen. Surayud said after arriving at the site that he wanted to get first-hand information as to why progress on the Thai side has been delayed in comparison with the Malaysian construction. He planned to report the matter with his Malaysian counterpart Abdulla Ahmad Badawi when the two meet in the near future.

The premier said the second bridge project should be completed within this year to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Thai-Malaysian relations.

The bridge is designed to facilitate transport of goods and travellers between the two countries, he said.

It will be the second bridge across the Golok River that forms part of the boundary between the two countries. The first links Rantau Panjang in Kelantan to Sungai Golok district in Thailand.

In another development, some 200 business men and entrepreneurs in the nearby province of Yala called on the Finance Ministry to speed up the tax exemption and reduction measure to help shore up their businesses in the special development zone. The measures were approved by the cabinet on December 19 last year but have yet to be implemented.

Source: TNA - 24 August 2007

[TAWP]

The first large fight after a head-on collision on the friends bridge will cement the irony of it...

[Payboy]

good, then we can all go looking for those 100 odd thais that went missing across the border.....

Edited August 25, 2007 by Payboy

[brahmburgers]

Why is every bridge connecting Thailand with a neighboring country called "Friendship Bridge" ?

Friendship is a nice word, but preshaps the top bureaucrats having a hard time coming up with another name. Some somewhat benign suggestions:

cooperation

commeraderie

joining hands

mutual goals

aspirations

[Big A]

......However, the construction on the Thai side previously encountered some problems.....

Really? Would never have guessed that!!

[siam2007]

where exactly is that bridge located ? crossing what ?

[PETERTHEEATER]

where exactly is that bridge located ? crossing what ?

The bridge links Bukit Bunga in Malaysia's northern state of Kelantan with Ban Buketa in Narathiwat's Weng district and crosses the Golok River