PUTRAJAYA: Malaysian ports, especially Port Klang, must continue to build their competitiveness instead of worrying about the land bridge proposal as announced by Thailand.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said what is important right now is that Malaysian ports must ensure they are competitive in terms of productivity and continue to attract investment for industrialisation.
"Shipping lines will only come to ports when you have cargoes to take in and out.
"There is nothing to be worried about. What is important right now is we must improve ourselves in terms of efficiency, resilience and productivity, he told a press conference after chairing the National Logistics Task Force (NLTF) meeting No 2/2023 here today.
Loke said any country is entitled to their development plan.
"Thailand is entitled to any development plan. However, we should not be overly panicked (over the proposal).
"I saw a lot of doomsayers saying that because of this proposal, our cargo (business) in Port Klang will go down and such.
"Firstly, it has not been built yet, it is just a proposal. The same goes with the proposal to build a canal, which has been going on for the past many years and is yet to become a reality," he said, adding that nonetheless, Malaysia will continue to monitor the development closely.
Loke added land bridge is not something new as Malaysia is also building a land bridge itself.
"The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is a land bridge between the Strait of Melaka and the South China Sea," he said.
Loke was asked to comment on Thailand's plan to build a land bridge as a Strait of Melaka alternative.
On Nov 14, it was reported that Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin pitched the proposed one trillion baht (100 baht = RM13.08) land bridge project to investors in the United States, promoting the shipping route shortcut as a "cheaper, faster, and safer" alternative to the Straits of Melaka.
Srettha who is also the finance minister was in San Francisco for the Apec Economic Leaders' Meeting and Related Meetings and attended the "Thailand Land Bridge Roadshow" to attract investors to the mega project, as the Thai government worked to spur investments and stimulate economic growth.