Due to the recent spell of persistently hot weather, the water level of the Golok River (Sungai Golok), which separates Malaysia and Thailand at Rantau Panjang, Kelantan, has continued to drop, with the distance between the two banks now reduced to about 20 meters.
Although this natural phenomenon makes the distance to Thailand appear closer than usual, local residents still strictly abide by the authorities’ instructions and do not engage in any illegal river crossings.
According to a Bernama report, Fazli, a 55-year-old Rantau Panjang resident, said the river’s water level started to decline noticeably after the area experienced up to 38°C of extreme heat last month.
During this period, due to a lack of rainfall, some sections of the river have almost completely dried up.
"Last month the weather was extremely hot, with hardly any rain, and the river looks almost completely dried up. Although there has been some rain in the past day or two, it’s only been short showers,"
The shallow waters have made parts of the riverbed—normally submerged—clearly visible, creating the visual effect of Malaysia and Thailand being closer together along the riverbanks.
Fazli also noted that in the past, the banks of the Golok River were bustling due to frequent crossings, but things have quieted down since border fences were erected to curb illegal crossings.
"It used to be very busy here, but after the fences were built along the border, it became quiet. Fencing has been completed at other guard posts, and Pos Ibrahim Pencen will have fences as well,"
According to him, after multiple fences were set up along the border, illegal river crossings no longer occur as they once did. At the same time, police regularly conduct surveillance, utilizing motorcycles and drones for patrols to ensure border security.
Additionally, Amran, a 46-year-old livestock farmer, said that fluctuation in the Golok River’s water level is a normal phenomenon in the area. Living near the riverbanks, he remarked that the water level usually rises a bit after rainfall but quickly drops again during continued hot weather.
"The local community is highly cooperative with authorities’ instructions and no longer treat the river as a shortcut to the other side like in the past,"
A Bernama reporter’s field observation at the Pos Ibrahim Pencen area also confirmed that the banks—once an unofficial crossing for local residents—now appear deserted. These access points have been fenced off by authorities to prevent the public from getting close to what was once a bustling riverbank.
Earlier, media reported that due to the drought season causing shallow water, the General Operations Force and the Malaysian Armed Forces have strengthened patrols and controls along the river border between Pasir Mas, Rantau Panjang, and the Golok River.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff stated at the time that these strict measures were imposed to curb smuggling activities, including drugs and firearms, to prevent criminals from exploiting the currently shallow river and the altered geographical conditions for illicit entry.