He said the wall would also facilitate the deployment of GOF personnel for border surveillance.

“I do not deny that issues such as the smuggling of drugs, firearms, cooking oil and raw materials can be reduced if the security wall is built. It will also facilitate the GOF’s assignments,” he said.

“The GOF operates many posts along the Malaysia-Thailand border to combat cross-border crime,” he told Bernama.

Razarudin said the construction would require a large allocation. Private land ownership issues also need to be resolved before the project could proceed.

“Additionally, most of the land there (in Rantau Panjang) near Sungai Golok does not have a buffer zone, making it difficult to implement the project,” he said.

It was reported yesterday that the Thai government had agreed to Malaysia’s plan to build the wall, with Narathiwat governor Trakul Thotham saying it would help address various cross-border crimes.

On Nov 5, the Kelantan government announced that it would bring the proposal to the federal government’s attention.

On Nov 11, home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail was reported as saying that the project is still in the proposal stage.

He added that the National Security Council, chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, was the final authority to decide on the matter.