US$4.3 Million for Malaysia-Thailand Joint Authority

JAMALUDDIN MUHAMMAD BANGKOK, July 24 (Bernama) -- The Thai cabinet on Tuesday approved US$4.3 million for the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Authority (MTJA) budget for next year in overseeing joint development of the overlapping territorial claims area. Deputy government spokesman Pakdeejarn Himathongkam said US$4.1 million had been allocated for operation expenditure and the balance for capital expenditure. The two governments jointly established the MTJA as a juristic entity to assume the rights and responsibilities of both countries in exploration and exploitation of non-living natural resources, particularly petroleum in the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Development Area (JDA). The JDA, the wedge-shaped area of about 7,250 sq km, is formed by overlapping continental shelf claims between the two countries. The heart of JDA lies about 180km from the shores of Pattani province, 260km from the shores of Songkhla, both in Thailand, and 150 km from Kota Baharu, Kelantan, the north-east state of Peninsular Malaysia. The two governments agreed on sharing all expenditure and benefits to be derived from petroleum exploration and production in the JDA since 2004. -- BERNAMA