Nattapong proposed that the Prime Minister use his visit to Malaysia to upgrade cooperation along the Thailand-Malaysia border, addressing economic, security, and tourism issues in a systematic way.
On 9 Jul 2026 at the Parliament, Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives and head of the People's Party, spoke about Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s visit to Malaysia from 9-10 July 2026. He said the Prime Minister should use this opportunity to elevate Thailand-Malaysia relations and cooperation on many issues, especially the border area, which serves as both an economic gateway and a key security zone. He noted that Thailand has always prioritized the border area with Malaysia through security commission work, parliamentary inquiries, and continuous field monitoring of various issues.
"I believe that in addition to development cooperation, the Prime Minister’s Malaysia visit should include discussions on joint approaches to solving problems impacting citizens of both countries," Nattapong said, adding that
the first issue is developing the Sadao border checkpoint in Sadao District, Songkhla Province. After repurposing the old Sadao checkpoint for tourism and establishing a new checkpoint for cargo transport, the government should expedite making travel more convenient for tourists and enhance transport efficiency by applying technology to facilitate border crossing. This includes immigration checks, cargo inspections, and connecting data systems between agencies of both countries to reduce entry-exit time, improve travel efficiency, and lower costs for the public and businesses. It also involves seriously addressing bribery and corruption problems that obstruct joint development of the border area.
Furthermore, the government should intensify cooperation with Malaysia to tackle drug trafficking, smuggling of illegal oil, illicit goods, and transnational crime, which require close collaboration between the two countries.
Regarding issues affecting Thai farmers, there is the suspension of shrimp imports from Thailand by Malaysia. Although reports indicate progress, this remains a key task for the Prime Minister. He must use the visit to discuss raising standards for agricultural and fishery product inspections and certifications to expedite lifting the bans on Thai shrimp and sea bass imports. This aims to build consumer confidence, reduce trade barriers, and increase opportunities for Thai farmers and exporters in the future.
"I hope this Malaysia visit will enable the government, especially the Prime Minister, to strategically elevate Thailand’s foreign policy to maximize benefits for our people. It should foster cooperation that yields real results for citizens of both countries, making the Thailand-Malaysia border an area of economic, tourism, and security opportunities. It must address and remove longstanding obstacles to transform them into new opportunities that both close neighboring countries, Thailand and Malaysia, can practically and effectively develop together," Nattapong concluded.