Posted on March 23, 2026
KOTA BARU: Thai authorities have halted sand dredging activities along the Malaysian side of Golok River following complaints raised through bilateral border coordination channels.
Sungai Golok district operations centre director Supeeyan Daemokleng said the action was taken on March 17 after the centre received a report on the activity from Narathiwat authorities.
He said officials in Narathiwat were alerted by their Malaysian counterparts via the Thai-Malaysian border coordination office under the military.
“The complaint alleged that an excavator had been deployed in the Golok River to dredge sand along the Malaysian riverbank.
“The activity sparked concern among Malaysian authorities.
“Based on our initial investigations, the activity was part of riverbank protection works carried out by a Thai contractor,” he said.
Supeeyan, who is also the Sungai Golok district officer, said he deployed a team to the site on March 17 to verify the complaint.
“The team met with the company involved and issued a stern warning prohibiting the use of excavators to dredge sand from the river.
“Strict legal action will be taken against any party found violating the directive,” he said, adding that the move was aimed at addressing Malaysia’s concerns and ensuring compliance with regulations along the shared waterway.
Meanwhile, residents in Rantau Panjang have expressed concern that the sand dredging activities could cause the Golok River to become shallower, potentially affecting its flow.
Mohamad Naziz Abdul Zaman said he hoped both Malaysian and Thai authorities would take firm and coordinated action to prevent such activities from recurring.
“Any changes to the river’s structure could have long-term environmental effects,” he said.
He added that continuous monitoring and strict enforcement were crucial to protecting the river.
The Golok River is a narrow river forming part of the border between Malaysia and Thailand in Kelantan.
