Malaysia could build 120-kilometer connection across Malacca Strait

A new route – either a bridge or a tunnel – spanning 120 kilometers is planned by a private consortium to link Malaysia’s coast in Malacca with a landing point in the adjacent Riau province of Indonesia’s island of Sumatra, crossing a major shipping lane in the region, the Malacca Strait The ambitious plan was disclosed by Malacca investment, industry, entrepreneur development and cooperatives committee chairman Ab Rauf Yusoh, according to Malaysia’s state news agency Bernama. The proposed development would have a major impact on the economic development of both countries, Yusoh said. However, he noted that it would take…

A new route – either a bridge or a tunnel – spanning 120 kilometers is planned by a private consortium to link Malaysia’s coast in Malacca with a landing point in the adjacent Riau province of Indonesia’s island of Sumatra, crossing a major shipping lane in the region, the Malacca Strait

The ambitious plan was disclosed by Malacca investment, industry, entrepreneur development and cooperatives committee chairman Ab Rauf Yusoh, according to Malaysia’s state news agency Bernama.

The proposed development would have a major impact on the economic development of both countries, Yusoh said. However, he noted that it would take 20 years to complete.

“Agreed in principle”

“The proposal on the project has been submitted by the private sector and both countries have in principle agreed to a detailed study on the matter,” he said, without disclosing the private entities involved.

The project would also involve the construction of other infrastructure, including traffic dispersal areas and an immigration, customs, quarantine and security complex, and a new industrial area on the Malaysian side.

Some are not convinced

Meanwhile, critics have questioned the feasibility of the plan and the fact that Yusoh did not specify the private entities possibly involved in the project.

Opposition lawmaker Khoo Poay Tiong said that the state government must first disclose whether a feasibility study and cost-benefit analysis has been done for the project, and that Yusoh should stop making “generalised claims” that the proposed link would be economically beneficial for the country without proper facts and analysis.

“Such vague announcements are highly irresponsible. They create doubt and confusion among the public and investors and tarnish the state government’s credibility,” Tiong added, noting that “Malacca has already had its fair share of white elephant and abandoned projects.”