In a distant corner of the eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia, thousands and thousands of tons of sand are being dredged from the South China Sea to organize the port of Kuantan for the country’s most expensive-ever infrastructure project: a RM55 billion (S$17.7 billion) rail link financed by China.
The East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) project will connect ports on the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia and will change regional trade routes that currently run between the busy Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea through Singapore, officials say.
This potential game changer provides a window into China’s ambitions to expand its economic clout in Asia and beyond. This explains why land reclamation is going down at such a frenetic pace in Kuantan Port.
The massive port expansion will include a 1km-long berth complex that can supply industries in nearby industrial zones specifically intended for Chinese manufacturing corporations.
Officials say the Kuantan port upgrade, which can be accomplished by mid-2018, is just part of what is going to soon grow to be the costliest infrastructure project in Malaysia.
If all goes in response to plan, the brand new connections could bypass Singapore and offer exporters recent opportunities to succeed in North Asian markets. Supporters of the project say exports from North Asia could also bypass Singapore and reach the busy Strait of Malacca.
Source : Times of the Strait
