TRAVEL trade practitioners and organisations have lent support to the proposal by Perlis Mentri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli to impose a levy charge of RM2 to RM5 on travellers exiting the two landed border checkpoints in the nation's smallest state.
Perlis has two formal landed customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ) border crossings; one in Padang Besar, the country's oldest border crossing with Thailand and another at Wang Kelian, the hilly terrain border crossing with Satun (southern Thai).
Shukri told a press briefing that he has submitted the proposal to the Federal Government, but he has yet to receive a reply on the matter.
It is understood that on the Thai side, the border authorities there customarily charge RM2 processing fee for majority of travellers heading into southern Thai.
If approved, the levy would provide revenue for the state, which could be used to improve infrastructure in Perlis, Shukri said.
Shukri also said that he is unsettled after reading recently that RM4 billion had reportedly flowed into southern Thai, as thousands of Malaysian tourists make a beeline there.
To this, Langkawi Businesses Association adviser Datuk Issac Alexander said he supports the proposal, but the amount collected should be reinvested solely in tourism.
"Perhaps Perlis can build more social amenities to lure tourists and to upgrade its infrastructure including the ferry terminal between Kuala Perlis and Langkawi."
There are eight formal land border checkpoints between northern Malaysia and southern Thailand, with two in Perlis; three in Kedah, two in Kelantan and one in Perak.
Alexander said that the amount of RM2 and RM5 is negligible for majority of the tourists or travellers leaving the country, especially those who are exiting for leisure in southern Thai.
But there is also a need to check the interest of many Malaysians, who have relatives living across in southern Thai.
The British colonial powers had drawn the modern boundary line with their Thai counterparts in an agreement known as the Anglo - Siamese Treaty in 1909 where some lines had separated parts of what was known historically as the Pattani Kingdom.
Currently, the Bukit Kayu Hitam crossing has surpassed Padang Besar as the busiest for cross - border activities between Malaysia and Thailand.
After Bukit Kayu Hitam, there is Rantau Panjang (Golok), Pengkalan Hulu (Betong), then Padang Besar (Padang Bazaar).
Veteran travel trade practitioner Ahmad Pishol Isahak said that there are positive impacts from Shukri's proposal if the sum collected can be ploughed back into domestic tourism.
He said that the sum collected can be used for promotion and marketing activities of the northern region and to also improve the touristy services up north.
Pishol said that cross-border tourism should be explored by both sides.
This can happen if travel agencies of both neighbours come up with joint tour packages, so tourists can enjoy the best of both countries, said Pishol. - September 27, 2025.
