Bukit Kayu Hitam

Bukit Kayu Hitam is a small town in Kubang Pasu District, Kedah, Malaysia. It is situated near the Malaysia–Thailand border and the main and busiest road border crossing between Malaysia and Thailand is located here.[1] On the Thai side of the border is the village of Ban Danok, where the Sadao checkpoint is located.

This article is about the town. For the state constituency, see Bukit Kayu Hitam (state constituency).
Bukit Kayu Hitam
Town
Bukit Kayu Hitam is located in Kedah
Bukit Kayu Hitam
Location in Kedah
Coordinates: 6°30′N 100°25′E
Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kubang Pasu District

Transportation

Bukit Kayu Hitam is the northern end of the North–South Expressway and Malaysia Federal Route 1 which runs the entire length of Peninsula Malaysia from Johor Bahru, Johor in the south where the border crossing to Singapore is located. The road is connected to Thailand's Route 4 or Phetkasem Road which goes all the way to Bangkok.

Bukit Kayu Hitam is 476 km north of Kuala Lumpur and 48 km north of Alor Setar, the capital of Kedah. The nearest town is Changlun about 8 km to the south.

Border crossing
The old Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint before expansion.

The Bukit Kayu Hitam customs, immigration, quarantine and security (ICQS) checkpoint lies about 800m south of the actual border. The Thai ICQS checkpoint is located immediately north of the border in the town of Danok.

The new checkpoint complex is an expansion of the older complex and was fully opened on 1 November 2017. The new complex has enhanced facilities both light and heavy vehicles such as drive-through immigration and customs lanes. New facilities for heavy or cargo vehicles include double security inspection lanes and enforcement application including cargo scanning machines, weighbridge, cold room and quarantine facilities for livestock and plants. The renovation was carried out by construction company Northern Gateway Infrastructure Sdn Bhd at a cost of RM425 million.[2][3]

The checkpoint operates daily between 6.00 am and 12.00 midnight (5.00 am and 11.00 pm Thai Standard Time) for light vehicles. Since 18 June 2019, the checkpoint has been operating 24 hours for cargo vehicles on a three-month trial.[4]

Midway between the Malaysia and Thai checkpoint is the duty-free shopping complex called The Zon Duty Free Complex. People from Malaysia are allowed to pass through the ICQS checkpoint to reach the duty-free shopping complex without going through immigration formalities. However, they are not allowed to purchase anything duty-free items and any items found will be subjected to tax. The Black Forest Golf dan Country Club is located behind the duty-free shopping centre.

There is also an army post between the duty-free shopping complex and actual border where passports and other travel documents may be checked.

  • Entry stamp for Malaysian citizen from Bukit Kayu Hitam
    Entry stamp for Malaysian citizen from Bukit Kayu Hitam
  • Bukit Kayu Hitam exit stamp
    Bukit Kayu Hitam exit stamp
  • Malaysia–Thailand border stone, looking into Bukit Kayu Hitam
    Malaysia–Thailand border stone, looking into Bukit Kayu Hitam

See also
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Bukit Kayu Hitam.

References
  1. "Songkhla keen on 24-hour checkpoint with Malaysia". The Bangkok Post. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  2. "Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQS opens today for heavy vehicles; to be fully operational Nov 1". New Straits Times. 2017-07-09. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  3. "New Malaysian complex at Thai border gets equipment boost to stem smuggling". Straits Times. 2017-11-20. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  4. "Commencement Of 24 Hour Operations At ICQS Bukit Kayu Hitam And CIQ Sadao". Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia. 2019-06-17. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
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