Strict regulation on entry of Thais from Jan 1

KUALA LUMPUR: -- The government will strictly regulate the entry of Thai citizens at Malaysian border checkpoints beginning Jan 1.

"They will have to show their travel documents and ensure that their vehicles comply with local regulations and laws," said Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Mohamed Johari Baharum in Parliament lobby today.

The move follows the Dec 2 incident at the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration Complex where a Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs enforcement officer was assaulted by a group of men believed to be diesel smugglers.

Johari said a Dec 20 meeting involving the Prime Minister's Department's National Security Division, Defence Ministry, Customs and Immigration Department, Road Transport Department and Malaysian Fisheries Development Board identified several shortcomings.

"The shortcomings will be rectified. This includes only allowing public and private vehicles with the necessary valid documentations from across the border to enter Malaysia.

"Previously, vehicles from Thailand are allowed unrestricted movement of up to 2km inside the Malaysian side. This was to ease the transport of goods at both sides of the border," he said, adding that some had breached this restriction.

From Jan 1, Johari said, drivers of vehicles seeking to move beyond the 2km radius will have to get the International Circulation Permit that ensures such vehicles adhered to local road rules and regulations.

"Both the use of motorcycles to ferry pedestrians across the border and undocumented travels across the borders will be banned," he added.

--sun2surf.com 2006-12-21

This is going to upset a lot of Thais that cross the border to buy cheap Malaysian petrol.

No motorbikes!! So no easy visa runs around the border anymore then.

No motorbikes!! So no easy visa runs around the border anymore then.

Ahhh... that was great fun on the roundabout at the Pedang Besar border crossing. Literally, a 50 second visa run from exiting Thailand to re-entering Thailand....