Wang Kelian Almost Paralysed, Traders Appeal Resumption Of Free Flow

From Zainal Abdul Jalil SATUN, (Southern Thailand), July 15 (Bernama) -- Wang Kelian, which was shaken by the findings of 106 skeletons belonging to victims of human trafficking recently, is almost paralysed since the free flow scheme there was cancelled since April 1. Both Wang Kelian (Malaysia) and Wang Prachan (Thailand) were prosperous before the facility to allow citizens from both countries to enter up to one kilometre on either side of the border on Friday, Saturday and Sunday without documents, were withdrawn for security reasons. Thousands of people from all over Malaysia and Thailand shop at Wang Kelian and Wang Prachan on these days but the atmosphere now is very gloomy. A Bernama visit found more than one-third of the 200 traders at Wang Kelian had closed shop and the water and electricity supplys at the Forestry Department Arcade at Wang Kelian had been disconnected as it was tenantless. Khuan Don District Officer (encompassing Wang Prachan) in the Satun Region, Pisan Aweve said the cancellation of the free flow facility affected the business and economy of the people, specifically on the border. "Our record shows the facility does not affect security or used as an easy route by criminals to come and go for smuggling activities. "The security authorities of both countries supervise the area well. There is also Anti-Smuggling Unit (UPP) checks 1.5 km inside the Malaysian border," Pisan told Bernama when met recently. He said the Thai enforcement authorities always cooperated with Malaysia to check crimes especially drug and firearms smuggling or human trafficking. Wang Prachan Customs chief, K. Satrawaha said the presence of Malaysians and Thais to shop during the three days had dropped drastically. "I sympathise with the lot of the traders here (Wang Prachan) and Wang Kelian. Their income is badly affected," he said, hoping the Malaysian government would change its stance to revive the economy of the people. Thailand Special Team Fifth Infantry commander, Colonel Paisan Nhusang ruled out the three-day free flow hiked incidents of crimes or were used by criminals. (His team looks after border security from Wang Kelian to Padang Besar). He said several arrests involving smuggling of firearms and drugs were via rat trails. A fruit trader in Wang Prachan who only wanted to be identified as Kak Ani, 54, said her sale dropped 80 per cent since the facility was cut. "The highest number of visitors were on Saturday and Sunday. Sales were very satisfactory but I have to carry on here as I have no place else to go to," said the woman glumly. A local sundry shop operator in Wang Kelian known as Don, 35, said his sales normaly touched about US$787 (RM3,000) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday but it dropped to US$78 (RM300) after April 1. "My profits are not enough to pay my four assistants. Many traders here have folded," he said, appealing to the government to allow the free flow to resume. Perlis Agriculture Committee chairman Ahmad Bakri Ali, who is also responsible for border security and bilateral ties with Thailand, said the entry of Thais did not reach 2,000 a month after April 1 compared to more than 50,000 previously. "This development is deeply felt by the traders and a loss to Malaysia in terms of monetary exchange because more Thais spend at Wang Kelian compared to Malaysians at Wang Prachan," he said. According to Ahmad Bakri, the State Govermment had written to the Home Ministry, furnished logical reasons, to reconsider its decision. "This is the only facility given to the people of both countries. It is not available in Padang Besar," he added. -- BERNAMA