The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) land bridge has potential competitive advantage over Thailand’s KRA project
Why aren’t Malaysians realizing the potential?
The ECRL between Kota Baru in Kelantan to Port Klang, via the ports of Kemaman and Kuantan will enable a land bridge to Port Klang. This will allow a direct connection between the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca.
This link will be highly competitive with the proposed Kra Land bridge between Chumphon in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. The distance by sea for both projects are very similar, as ships using the proposed Kra project will have to cruise into the Gulf of Thailand first. This offsets some of the Thai competitive advantage against the ECRL land bridge. In addition, if the Malaysian land bridge can be first into the market, it will have an advantage over the Kra project.
Thus, a competitive Kemaman/Gebeng to Port Klang land bridge in operation before Kra is a game-changer in China-Japan-Korea and Mena-European trade. This could potentially build Port Klang into one of the most strategically important ports in the region.
Rather than Malaysia invest in the Thai Kra land bridge, as prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has publicly stated, plans should be underway to make the Malaysian land bridge a success.
Fortunately for Malaysia, Thailand is still seeking investors for the project. However, much of the highway between Chumphon and Ranong has already been built, while the rest is still in construction.
Malaysia’s land bridge between the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca is actually work in progress. The railway work has commenced in Kelantan working its way to Pahang. So starting in Kelantan has wasted a few years of time to set the land bridge up, and commissioning for commercial operations.
The sad part about the project is that Malaysian politicians, business people, think tanks, and economists haven’t realized the full potential of the ECRL as a strategic land bridge. They are fixated upon the Thai Kra project, psychologically beaten down, as if Thailand has won a massive competitive advantage.
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We do not want Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu to prosper. They are opposition states. They must be suppressed until they are willing to support the Anwar's administration. Okay? Hehehe....!!!
A canal rather than land bridge would be best for Bolehland.
Nothing to do with progress or even any great idea in international transport, a canal would slow down the invasion of the very successful green army of the north in its march to Save Malaysia from Mullah Anwar and whatever tf of the many things we should be saved from.
One of the fears of the Thais about their canal was the jihadis in their south using the canal to split from the north or at least slow down any effort to reclaim sovereignty by the Thai gomen. And heaven forbid if the liberated zone chooses to be saved by Mullah Hardy and a new caliphate is created, Alhamdullilah!
Ideally, Oratorah Anwar spewing his usual loads of bollocks should be more than enough to keep the crowds of dumb sheep coming back for more. But of late the sheep have shown greater attraction and devotion to the Green Revolution. At the speed the hinterlanders are reverting to the green cause, Oratorah Anwar would see himself dethroned earlier than any AI algorithm would predict.
I would urge the creation of a North and a South Malaya, effectively wan Jihadi Republic of Kelanstan, and an Imperial Anwaristan, hail Caesar!
Whatever happens, Anwar must not return from his survey of the Middle East and his mission of saving Gaza, finds Ayatollah Hardy sitting on his throne, Sanusi a fridge in his kitchen!
I hope you dig my drift. Geddit? Canal, dig..?!