NACC Songkhla Coordinates Thai-Malaysian Anti-Corruption Cooperation for High-Risk Border Areas
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Songkhla Office has reinforced cooperation with Malaysia’s Kedah State to prevent corruption in the border risk areas between Songkhla Province and Malaysia. The collaboration focuses on proactive integration in academic fields, legal assistance, and the analysis of cross-border corruption patterns, with the goal of preventing and combating corruption in a concrete and effective manner.
Ram Wasuthanapinyo, Director of the Songkhla NACC Office, revealed that the office recently held a working visit and bilateral discussion on anti-corruption cooperation in the border risk areas between Songkhla Province and the State of Kedah, Malaysia. The meeting involved the NACC Songkhla Office and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Kedah State, with the aim of fostering cooperation in preventing and combating corruption. This includes academic collaboration, legal assistance in corruption-related cases, such as the smuggling of untaxed goods across the border, and tracking assets acquired through corruption. The meeting also strengthened relations between the two countries’ anti-corruption agencies, which will benefit future cooperation in anti-corruption efforts.
This meeting marked progress in the cooperation between both nations’ anti-corruption agencies, which are working together to tackle corruption—a major threat to the social and economic systems. Corruption has become a complex transnational crime that requires collaboration from neighboring countries to effectively address it. In particular, the discussions focused on issues such as the delayed opening of the new Sadao border checkpoint, the transportation of goods across the border (fuel), and the use of loopholes to transport fuel for domestic use. Additionally, there was a proposal to establish a Thai-Malaysian joint task force for anti-corruption efforts.
The teams also observed the new Sadao Customs Checkpoint and the construction of the connecting road between the new Sadao Customs Checkpoint and Bukit Kayu Hitam Checkpoint. They traveled to Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah State, Malaysia, to attend a meeting with CIQ agencies. During the meeting, they discussed the progress of the connecting road’s design and construction between the two checkpoints. The road will link the Sadao and Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoints, with both Thai and Malaysian parties reporting on the design updates and road construction. These updates stem from the discussions during the second Thailand-Malaysia Joint EWG Meeting held on May 23rd, 2023. Both parties also exchanged technical issues and outlined the next steps, with Thailand presenting the final drawing, revised to align with the decisions of the second EWG Meeting. This included adjustments to the road’s centerline, angle, and speed limit. Malaysia presented the concept design drawing and the project timeline, expecting construction on the Thai side to be completed by February 2025, and on the Malaysian side by March 2026.
This meeting provided an opportunity for officials from both countries to share experiences and best practices, improving their knowledge and expertise while developing more effective anti-corruption measures in border risk areas. The insights gained will be applied in practice, and the meeting also fostered good relations between the officials of both agencies, who will continue to work together in law enforcement and anti-corruption activities. This collaboration aligns with the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) of 2003, specifically Article 48 on law enforcement cooperation and Article 49 on joint investigations.
