IPOH, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Monday donated rail worth RM7.5 million to Cambodia to connect a 48km missing link from Poipet to Sisophon as part of the ambitious Asean-initiated Singapore-Kunming Rail Link (SKRL) project.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said the rail was recovered from the Rawang-Ipoh sector where new rail tracks had been built under the Rawang-Ipoh Electrified Double Tracking Project.
"For this project, Asean member countries will equally share the cost to ensure SKRL's success. Cargo movements across many borders will no longer be an impossible dream.
"Instead, the project is seen as a safe, efficient and most economical mode of cross-border cargo transportation," he told reporters after handing over the rail at the Ipoh railway station, here Monday.
Besides increasing trade with China, Chan said the SKRL was also expected to greatly contribute to the region's economic growth.
He said Malaysia was donating 106km of used rail, weighing 4,200 tonnes. The rail will be sent on six 20-wagon trains from the Tapah Road station to Aranyaprathet in Thailand, near the Cambodian border.
Chan said completion of the railway link between Singapore and Kunming via six Asean countries -- Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam -- also symbolised the close economic cooperation among Asean member nations.
The project plan was mooted at the Fifth Asean Summit in Bangkok on December 1995. Malaysia was appointed the project coordinator and a study by Malaysian consultants was completed in August 1999.
"Positive spin-offs from the SKRL project will include creation of jobs, increase in nations' productivity and enhancement of multi-lateral ties among the countries involved," Chan said.
He said the study revealed missing links in certain areas that needed to be connected for the project to materialise.
Two routes have been identified as the most feasible as agreed at the Sixth Asean Transport Ministers' Meeting in October 2000.
"One of them is a 48km stretch between Poipet and Sisophon in Cambodia. Malaysia was tasked to assist by donating used rail to link the two places," Chan said.
He also said that the runway of the under-utilised Sultan Azlan Shah Airport here would not be lengthened if airline companies were not keen to operate here.
"There's no point in extending the runway if airlines don't want to fly here due to poor demand," he added.
He said his ministry did not propose to close the airport but to continue with existing operations.
He was responding to the state government's plan to spend RM28 million to lengthen the runway by 500 metres to accommodate bigger aircraft.
He revealed that the Rawang-Ipoh Electrified Double Tracking Project would be operational by early 2008.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said the rail was recovered from the Rawang-Ipoh sector where new rail tracks had been built under the Rawang-Ipoh Electrified Double Tracking Project.
"For this project, Asean member countries will equally share the cost to ensure SKRL's success. Cargo movements across many borders will no longer be an impossible dream.
"Instead, the project is seen as a safe, efficient and most economical mode of cross-border cargo transportation," he told reporters after handing over the rail at the Ipoh railway station, here Monday.
Besides increasing trade with China, Chan said the SKRL was also expected to greatly contribute to the region's economic growth.
He said Malaysia was donating 106km of used rail, weighing 4,200 tonnes. The rail will be sent on six 20-wagon trains from the Tapah Road station to Aranyaprathet in Thailand, near the Cambodian border.
Chan said completion of the railway link between Singapore and Kunming via six Asean countries -- Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam -- also symbolised the close economic cooperation among Asean member nations.
The project plan was mooted at the Fifth Asean Summit in Bangkok on December 1995. Malaysia was appointed the project coordinator and a study by Malaysian consultants was completed in August 1999.
"Positive spin-offs from the SKRL project will include creation of jobs, increase in nations' productivity and enhancement of multi-lateral ties among the countries involved," Chan said.
He said the study revealed missing links in certain areas that needed to be connected for the project to materialise.
Two routes have been identified as the most feasible as agreed at the Sixth Asean Transport Ministers' Meeting in October 2000.
"One of them is a 48km stretch between Poipet and Sisophon in Cambodia. Malaysia was tasked to assist by donating used rail to link the two places," Chan said.
He also said that the runway of the under-utilised Sultan Azlan Shah Airport here would not be lengthened if airline companies were not keen to operate here.
"There's no point in extending the runway if airlines don't want to fly here due to poor demand," he added.
He said his ministry did not propose to close the airport but to continue with existing operations.
He was responding to the state government's plan to spend RM28 million to lengthen the runway by 500 metres to accommodate bigger aircraft.
He revealed that the Rawang-Ipoh Electrified Double Tracking Project would be operational by early 2008.
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