Loke: Regional rail connectivity can enhance supply chain

The Star

22-04-2025

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysia-Thailand rail connectivity to the Asian continent, including China, is important in terms of supply chain security and safety, says Anthony Loke (pic).
The Transport Minister said the development of rail infrastructure is important from a regional perspective with the aim of connecting Asean member countries through a more strategic railway network.
'When we can connect via rail between these countries, it is regional connectivity.
'It is also very important in terms of supply chain security because the world today is experiencing various uncertainties and disruptions,' he told reporters after the ministry's monthly assembly and the Raikan Kasih Madani 2025 event yesterday, Bernama reported.
Loke said Malaysia, which is located in the middle of the strategic route of the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea, has the advantage of being a link between Western and Eastern countries.
He said the region should make full use of existing railways to improve connectivity.
'At the Asean level, we hope there is a consensus so that we can improve this connectivity.
'When we have improved the connectivity, other countries will also be interested, especially landlocked countries,' he said.
To realise the Pan-Asian Railway network, Loke said Malaysia is committed to achieving a policy with Thailand that is more supportive of the development of the rail sector.
Loke will meet Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya Juangroongruangkit on May 2 to resolve several issues, including Malaysia's rail cargo services being able to cross borders and become a major mode in the future.
He said for example, among the existing obstacles were certain restrictions on the movement of goods by rail between Malaysia and Thailand where there were categories of goods that were not allowed to be transported by rail.
Malaysia is the host of the Asean summit next month and the main agenda is to steer the region in facing current challenges.
'The increase in tariffs by the United States has made the global economy increasingly tense.
'What is important for Asean is to ensure that availability or the level of competitiveness remains high and to ensure that trade within Asean can be improved to reduce trade dependence on only one market,' he said.
Loke also said cooperation between Malaysia and Thailand was established through Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd and State Railway of Thailand but what is important is government-to-government cooperation.
The Pan-Asian Railway network is also known as the Kunming-Singapore Railway network, connecting the city of Kunming in China with Singapore, via several South-East Asian countries.
It is a mega project that connects South-East Asia with China and then to the European continent.
Malaysia plays a key role in the Pan-Asian Railway network, particularly through the East Coast Rail Link project which connects the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia.