BANGKOK, May 23, 2025 — Malaysia plans to initiate dredging at the Golok River estuary and construct breakwaters by late 2025, pending approval from the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG) and the Thai government, Deputy Prime Minister announced today.
During a courtesy visit to his Thai counterpart, H.E. Prasert Jantararuangtong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society, at Thailand’s Government House, Fadillah outlined Malaysia’s strategy to mitigate flood risks during the monsoon season. He revealed that a post-flood sedimentation study, set for completion by April 2025, indicates sediment levels exceeding the average high tide mark, necessitating urgent dredging.
Both nations, during the 40th JTWG meeting, agreed to advance discussions at upcoming Joint Evaluation Team (JET) and JTWG meetings, with updates to be presented at the next Joint Steering Committee (JSC) meeting later this year. The initiative, part of the Malaysia-Thailand Cross-Border Cooperation under the Golok River Estuary Improvement Project, aims to address recurrent flooding and enhance the quality of life for communities along the river.
Fadillah emphasized that reducing flood risks at the Golok River estuary requires a holistic approach, combining engineering solutions, environmental management, and policy measures to tackle sedimentation, water flow control, and flood impacts.