Kelantan is one of the most fortunate state in Peninsula Malaysia to have two border crossings. Earlier and yesterday, I made a good crossing from Pengkalan Kubor to Tak Bai in Thailand. Today, I made a third time crossing and this time from Rantau Panjang, Kelantan to Sungai Golok (Thai: Su'Ngai Kolok) in Narathiwat, Thailand. From here onwards I prefer to spell Sungai Golok as Sungai Kolok like how they write in Narathiwat, Thailand.
Sungai Kolok is a bizarre town and for a long time it has been one of the many popular crossings for travellers from Malaysia, much more than Bukit Kayu Hitam (in Kedah, Malaysia) and Danok (in Songkhla, Thailand) crossing. There was even once a rail connection between Rantau Panjang and Sungai Kolok but that has thus far become defunct for a long time - no one actually knows why the service is discontinued perhaps it was way during the Colonial times as more of logistical transport rather than public transport for commuters.
To get to Rantau Panjang, a commuter has to board the Cityliner bus No. 21 from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang. The travel time is about 1 hour and 15 minutes depending the amount of passengers alighting of various towns in between Kota Bharu and Rantau Panjang and that includes Pasir Mas, a relatively sizable town in Kelantan. The distance from Kota Bharu to Rantau Abang is about 45 km. And from Rantau Panjang to the immigration is another 2 to 3 km to the immigration that's close to Sungai Kolok. The bus trip from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang costs RM5.50.
Apparently, the Immigration, Customs, and Quarantine Sections (ICQS) have improved tremendously since I last visited. The pedestrian ICQS is simple and impressive. On the Malaysian side, despite there's a queue line for both Malaysian and foreign nationalities, on the other side of the counter, the Malaysian immigration authorities have set up a feasible passport reader and scanning machine for Malaysian passport readers. As I stepped into the booth the machine closed the booth's door, scanned me as the passport, scanned my thumbprint without any fuss and in a matter of seconds, confirmed me as the passport holder, and the booth's door on the other side opened to say that I was cleared. Similarly, on my return from Sungai Kolok, after four hours later, the machine on the returning side cleared me as well. Somehow, some officials saw my actions as bizarre, perhaps no one had yet to use the machines, and most Malaysians and Thais prefer the queue line to get their passports or travel permits (those that stayed on the borders and traverse along Kelantan and Narathiwat can get travel permits from the Malaysian and Thai immigration authorities) checked and stamped. I was the most glad person for this development - and on my way out I gave both my thumbs up and the authorities thought perhaps I was mad or what.
That was however untrue for the Customs side of the enforcement - there weren't anybody at all especially on the side where visitors from Thailand entering Rantau Panjang, Malaysia. The bag scanning machine was turned off and not sure where are the customs officials. Having said that, however, Malaysia ICQS have in fact one of the best vehicular inspection bays consisting of 5 vehicular bays. Perhaps Customs officials are better stationed to check vehicles rather than pedestrians crossing the borders.
The Thai side of the ICQS at Su'Ngai Kolok has improved tremendously since those days they stationed on the wooden bridge (along the Sungai Kolok) and a row of connected of offices were built adjacent to the then Thai immigration office. The Thai immigration office shifted inland and they set up similarly to the Malaysian ICQS. When I arrived at the Thai pedestrians' ICQS, its very organized and straightforward two queues in tow. The clearance is simple, efficient, and fast. I took my time to take a few pictures for this write-up and also took my time to fill up the traveller or tourist immigration card. Still the clearance only took like less than half-an-hour. The Immigration Officer was also meticulous as well and queried me as to my whereabouts in Sungai Kolok because I did not input a residence as I would be there for a few hours only. In the end, I did offer him my input that I will be hanging about in the morning market in Sungei Kolok and he was indeed satisfied. I wasn't annoyed at all, and thought his actions and questions were relevant, important, and commendable, as Sungei Kolok was troubled with a bomb blast a couple of weeks before and not far from the ICQS.
As I exited the Thai ICQS, I noticed a poster of wanted persons on banners. Not sure whether these individuals are wanted for a series of troubles in Narathiwat and Southern Thailand.
About 100 metres from the Thai ICQS, there's a military checkpoint with two soldiers in full military uniforms and weapons straddled on their shoulders. They were pleasantly nice and offered their "hellos" or "Sawadee Krap" as most Thais will do. Thailand like any country in the world, when their country is besieged with a violent problem, the full force of the military is called upon to make the presence felt rather than to enforce the law.
After the military checkpoint, the immediate building near the ICQS zone is the Thai Tourism Office and Exhibition Centre. The buildings are so massively built that it kind of reminds tourists and travellers that Narathiwat is not dangerous and patrons are free to visit and travel anywhere in Southern Thailand. I did not go there because I felt silly and felt the buildings are just 'white elephants' because even from the outside, it seemed quite empty and not much actually feel the insides even though today is a Sunday. Trespassing is not my best suite anyway and decided to prod on towards more exciting places.
My aim is to find out where the Sungai Kolok Train Station was.
As I proceeded on, I saw another banner in fact one big banner was actually stationed across the Tourist and Exhibition Centre and its about the International Competition on Chinese Lion Dance and to be held sometime in May 2018. Participants from Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, and Australia are invited to the competition together with the Thai competitors and it will be held in the Exhibition Centre. Further down there were smaller banners hanging straight down on the lamp post.
Just after the Genting Hotel, the shops came into view; I was surprised to see so many shops and further into avenues, five-foot way shops sprung and there were security checkpoints with policing figures stationed at these checkpoints. In these controlled areas apparently, many Thais of various ethnic groups (despite majority are still Malay Muslims) conducted their businesses. Most are Chinese owned shops and they employed Muslims to run their shops - whether its eateries, sundry goods shops or pharmacies. Most of these Thais spoke dual languages, Malay and Thai. And some even can converse in local Chinese dialects like Hokkien or Teochew to my delight.
The odd thing about this, is that, it seemed the controlled secured areas are run by Thais whom have assimilated comfortably into the Thai culture. It seemed as compared to Tak Bai, Thai Muslims in Sungai Kolok are pretty comfortable with their lifestyles and have assimilated more readily. When I was having my lunch at one of the eateries, they played and sang along with Thai pop songs that one could listen readily in Bangkok and not those traditional Thai music. And to my delight most of them are Muslims and yet they don't feel the uncomfortable and at ease.
I managed to arrive at the Sungai Kolok Train Station, and the station had metal detecting machines and military figures but it seemed they either uninterested or lackadaisical in their attributes. Hence, the metal detecting machine is for show as deterrence rather than for enforcement. I went to the ticket window to inquire the ticket price for a lower berth sleeper from Sungai Kolok to Bangkok and got a favorable answer.
I did not hang around that long and decided because this place is anywhere like Thailand and thus did not thrill me at all, apart from the vegetarian lunch I had and thought it was delicious.
I returned to the immigration and observed what are the impossibilities but it seemed, on the Thai ICQS side, one have to go to one of the vehicle bays and not back to the office. Nevertheless, everything's efficient as well but I just feel its rather queer to have to be examined and checked at a vehicle bay.
All in all, my experience with the Rantau Panjang and Sungei Kolok crossings is one of positive note, if not the best, and most efficient crossings of all times. Despite, the crossings is considered well enforced but still I could see bike runners offering rides to pedestrians, however, I did not see any of those who want to risk crossing illegally.
Investigations into underage girl's marriage over: Zaini Sulaiman
ReplyDeletePosted on 6 July 2018 - 12:56am Last updated on 6 July 2018 - 08:37am
KOTA BARU: Investigation into the case of a 41-year-old man marrying an underage girl as his third wife at Sungai Golok, South Thailand on June 18, has concluded said Kelantan Syariah chief prosecutor Zaini Sulaiman.
He said the department received the investigation report from the relevant authorities yesterday and would review the report before further action could be taken.
"Based on preliminary investigation, the child was not a victim of sexual violence and the Narathiwat Islamic Religious Council did not issue the couple a marriage certificate.
"I have to study the report first before a charge is made," he told reporters at a Hari Raya gathering held at the Lundang Islamic Hall here today.
According to Zaini, he would have to look into two aspects from a legal point of view such as 'iddah' of a person who has or has not reached puberty and if approval had been given.
"We are also not certain if the neighbouring country has a ruling on the minimum age for marriage," Zaini said.
Earlier photographs of the man marrying the 11-year-old which went viral on social media sparked outrage after the matter was disclosed by his second wife.
The girl's parents who are Thai nationals living in Gua Musang work as rubber tappers to earn a living. — Bernama
Ref: http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/07/06/investigations-underage-girls-marriage-over-zaini-sulaiman
Philippines is doing the right way. I am glad that H.E. President Duterte, recognized the 'Bangsamoro' people finally. 'Bangsamoro' Filipinos are still lumped under the ONE ethnicity of 'Bangsamoro', but at least the ethnicities recognized the importance of Islam rather than ethnicity. Whether it's Sulueans, Bajaus (sea or land), etc., they now know that they have a future and with the help of the Central Government in Manila, they can lay down their weapons and instead now fight against poverty and push for recognition amongst the majority. This should be a formula for so many nations in South East Asia especially in the deep South of Thailand as well. The following is an Al Jazeera report of what's going to happen in the next few months. Thank you, Your Excellency President Duterte.
ReplyDeletePhilippines: Duterte to autonomous 'Bangsamoro' proposal
The law proposes the creation of a regional parliament and incorporation of Islamic law into the area's justice system
by JC Gotinga
Cotabato City, Philippines - The indigenous Moro Muslims, a minority population in the predominantly Christian Philippines, are on the verge of securing their own substantially autonomous territory as Congress hands over a law for President Rodrigo Duterte to sign on Monday.
If all goes according to plan, the Bangsamoro Organic Law will establish the Bangsamoro autonomous region on the country's southern island of Mindanao and may put an end to five decades of violent conflict that has left more than 100,000 people dead.
While the law is expected to be signed on Monday, it will still need to be ratified by a plebiscite, which is expected to take place later this year.
The Bangsamoro, which means "Nation of the Moro", will replace a nominally autonomous Muslim region which has largely been run by the central government in Manila, and has failed to quell the Moro rebellion.
The law will allow the Bangsamoro government to have its own parliament, retain the lion's share of local revenues, regularly receive a fixed portion of the central government's revenues and manage the territory's natural resources.
It will also incorporate Islamic law into the region's justice system.
In return for autonomy, the law will require the rebel group the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to gradually disband its thousands-strong army.
Despite the bill only covering "85 to 90 percent" of items originally afforded the rebels in a 2014 peace agreement that foreshadowed the measure, leaders of the MILF say they are satisfied.
"This may not be a perfect law but it is good to start with," said Ghazali Jaafar, MILF's second-in-command.
"And, God willing, now that we have this government, we can improve the lives of our people."
CONT BELOW>
Historical tensions
ReplyDeleteThe law's passage will cap off 22 years of negotiations between the MILF and the Philippine government.
"Moro", a term originating from the Spanish word for "Moor", refers to more than 10 million members of several ethnic groups in Mindanao that evaded the Hispanicisation, and Christianisation, of the rest of the Philippines in the 16th to 19th centuries.
The Moro also resisted US colonisation in the early 20th century.
As a result, they retained a culture and heritage quite distinct from the other 90 million Filipinos. This has led to discrimination, neglect and even persecution by the government.
The Moro provinces are among the country's poorest.
In 1970, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) was formed and started the first organised Moro rebellion against the Philippines in a bid to establish an independent Islamic state.
When the MNLF settled for autonomy in 1976, a few members split and eventually formed the MILF, which continued fighting for independence.
The MILF first negotiated with the government in 1996 under President Fidel Ramos, but efforts fell through in 1999 when President Joseph Estrada declared "all-out war" against the group. Negotiations restarted in 2001 under President Gloria Arroyo.
A definitive peace deal was signed between the MILF and President Benigno Aquino in October 2012, followed by a "comprehensive agreement" in March 2014.
Congress was already drafting a "Bangsamoro basic law" in January 2015 when a police mission to arrest a target of the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah in Maguindanao province resulted in a firefight with MILF fighters. The fiasco discredited the MILF among legislators, who then dropped the Bangsamoro measure from their priorities.
Duterte, who is from Mindanao and claims to be of Moro lineage, promised to establish the Bangsamoro immediately after taking power in 2016. He plans to sign the law as he delivers his yearly State of the Nation Address on Monday.
CONT BELOW>
Local referendum
ReplyDeleteBut before the Bangsamoro can be set up, the organic law will be up for a plebiscite in provinces that would be included in the autonomous territory. The vote is expected to take place before the end of the year.
Worries that the law is a watered-down version of the Moro rebels' demands could prompt voters to reject it.
The law puts power over the territory's police and military solely in the hands of the central government, and prohibits the Bangsamoro government from purchasing weapons and firearms, to prevent further rebellion.
The MILF had wanted several plebiscites to allow more provinces, cities and towns to join the Bangsamoro, but were denied that request.
Teresita Deles, a peace process secretary under Aquino, warned of renewed violence should the Bangsamoro fail to meet the Moro's expectations.
"Too many times having hoped for something that doesn't come true, it's more painful," she told Al Jazeera.
"It makes the situation more hopeless. It may drive people to think of other alternatives."
Other armed groups have splintered from the MNLF and MILF, rejecting autonomy and pushing for secession. If the Bangsamoro turns out to be yet another disappointment, secessionist groups - and bandits - may capitalise on people's frustration to recruit more fighters and shore up support.
'Addressing aspirations'
However, legislators said they could not be too liberal with the measure, and had to make sure it fell within the bounds of the country's constitution.
"We had problems along the way precisely because we could not grant everything they wanted," said congressman Rodolfo Farinas after six days of gruelling deliberations on the law.
Leaders of the MILF, who are poised to take top positions in the Bangsamoro government, had made unsuccessful last-minute attempts to get more out of the measure.
"But in fairness to [the MILF leaders], they accepted everything," Farinas added.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri said he was optimistic the agreement would help settle historical tensions in the region.
"We are addressing the aspirations of our brothers and sisters in the Bangsamoro for self-governance," he said. "So now they'll be able to chart their own path."
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA NEWS
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/07/philippines-duterte-approve-autonomous-bangsamoro-proposal-180722053525020.html