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RM1.5 billion for a wall along the Kelantan–Thailand border — Malaysia’s answer to Trump’s big idea. Officials call it a “strategic necessity” to stop smugglers. But honestly, when corruption flows faster than the Golok River, will concrete really help? We don’t need more walls. We need more will. Because in Malaysia, when all else fails, we just build something expensive to look serious.
By Mihar Dias October 2025
It looks like Malaysia is finally joining the wall-building club. Following in the footsteps of Donald Trump — who wanted to keep out the Mexicans — we’re now building our very own barrier to keep out smugglers from Thailand.
The government has approved RM1.5 billion to construct a border wall along the Kelantan-Thailand line. The Vibes
Yes, a real wall, not a metaphorical one or a “smart fence,” but concrete and steel to plug what enforcement has failed to seal.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat confirmed that this is no longer just a plan but a “strategic necessity.”The Vibes
The National Security Council has given the go-ahead, and the Chief Secretary himself has inspected the site. When Putrajaya’s top officials descend on Rantau Panjang, you know the cement mixers aren’t far behind.
But let’s ask the obvious: do walls actually work? Trump’s didn’t. Smugglers climbed over, tunneled under, or simply walked through checkpoints with help from “friendly” officers. The same will likely happen here.
For RM1.5 billion, we might just get a sturdier photo op — and the same leaky border.
So, what about the people who’ve lived along that frontier for generations? The border communities share more than a river; they share bloodlines, culture, and trade. A wall won’t just stop smugglers; it’ll cut through family ties and the informal economy that has kept both sides alive.
But then again, it’s much easier to pour concrete than to fix corruption. It’s far simpler to build a wall than to build integrity.
So here’s to Malaysia’s newest monument — part fortress, part fantasy. Trump would be proud.
Because when it comes to solving problems, we too now believe: if you can’t manage it, just build a wall around it.
(Trump is coming to town, why not get his opinion?)
Mihar Dias (mihardias@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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