Thailand is planning to build a land bridge between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim believes that Thailand’s idea to make a land bridge linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans instead of using the Straits of Melaka will be good for Malaysia.
This big plan, costing US$28 billion (RM131.31 billion), involves making two ports in Thailand – Ranong on the west side and Chumphon on the east. These ports will be joined by either a road or a railway. This new route will let ships skip passing through Malaysian ports. Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has said before that this land path could save ships up to four days of travel and reduce their costs by 15%.
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Thailand’s land bridge between the Indian and Pacific Oceans to benefit Malaysia
Anwar, in a report by Bernama, said today that Srettha has promised Malaysia will play a part in this project. “The project is still at the beginning, but in our talks, Srettha said Malaysia, especially the northern peninsula, will be involved,” he said to reporters after visiting Sadao, Songkhla, in Thailand for a day.
He added, “We will get benefits, whether it’s from the facilities there or some ownership, but it’s still too soon to talk about this. The Thai Prime Minister was very clear. He said they will make sure Malaysia gains from and takes part in the project.”
Anwar’s trip to Sadao was to talk about how Malaysia and Thailand can work together more. This visit, which Srettha invited him to, was also to check on the progress of a road project. This road connects the Bukit Kayu Hitam immigration, customs, quarantine, and security (ICQS) checkpoint in Malaysia with the customs, immigration, and quarantine (CIQ) complex in Sadao.
