22-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Loke to meet Thai counterpart over landmark Pan-Asian Rail link
KUALA LUMPUR: Transport Minister Anthony Loke is scheduled to meet his Thai counterpart on May 2 to discuss the realisation of the Pan-Asian Railway Network (PARN) and to strengthen bilateral ties in the transport sector.
The meeting in Thailand follows recent discussions between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his Thai counterpart, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, in Bangkok, aimed at enhancing cross-border cooperation between Malaysia and Thailand.
"Among the projects under discussion are the construction of the second Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok bridge, road connections between the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex and the CIQ Sadao, as well as a road link from CIQ Perlis to Thailand," he said at the Transport Ministry's 2025 Raikan Kasih Madani event today.
Previously, it was reported Malaysia was preparing for the PARN, a proposed rail network that aims to boost the halal trade industry between Malaysia and China.
During his recent state visit to Malaysia, Chinese President Xi Jinping also expressed strong support for the PARN initiative, highlighting its potential to open markets in western China, particularly in the Inner Mongolia region.
Loke said that the government was committed to global railway development, recognising the significant opportunities it presented for the country and its role in enhancing regional cooperation.
The upcoming meeting, he said, would focus on strengthening rail sector collaboration between both nations, which has thus far been limited to domestic use.
"While there has already been cooperation between Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM) and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), it is essential to elevate this to a government-to-government level to enable strategic railway development," he added.
Loke said that such efforts were crucial for reinforcing regional ties and securing supply chain resilience amid global uncertainties.
"By connecting rail networks between Malaysia and Thailand, we can open up routes across Asean and into China, which would bring tremendous benefits to the region," he said.
