KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is not a signatory to the Intergovernment Agreement (IA) on the Trans Asia Railway Network due to its involvement in the ASEAN Railway Sub-Working Group (ARSWG).
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said members of the working group are in discussion for the development of the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link (SKRL) network.
"Currently, Malaysia is not a signatory to the IA on the Trans Asia Railway Network because the country is already participating in ARSWG.
"ARSWG discusses transport connectivity among ASEAN countries like Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam, focusing on enhancing the transportation of goods and passengers, mainly via railways. Member countries generally identify missing links to establish the SKRL network and present progress on railway projects.
"The interconnected SKRL network with China will open opportunities for railway connectivity to the Trans Asia Railway Network in the future," Loke said in a written reply on Nov 7.
Loke said the SKRL project is being implemented under the ASEAN Mekong Basin Development Cooperation (AMBDC) initiative.
"This 7,000km railway route is expected to connect major cities in ASEAN countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, to Kunming, China.
"The current railway routes in Malaysia included in the SKRL network are the Padang Besar-Gemas, Gemas-Johor Bahru and the Tebrau Shuttle routes," he said.
Loke was saying this in response to Oscar Ling Chai Yew (PH-Sibu), who sought clarification from the ministry regarding Malaysia's current exclusion from the Trans Asia Railway Network and any plans for future participation.
IA on the Trans Asia Railway Network is a regional initiative to enhance railway connectivity, promote regional integration and economic cooperation among Asian nations.
Participating countries in the agreement include Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and China.