By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-03-25 08:41:47 | Updated at 2025-03-28 01:57:39
2 days ago
Malaysia is building an inland mega-port in its northernmost-state of Perlis to boost goods train capacity to the western Chinese cities of Kunming and Chongqing – potentially reducing delivery times by up to 50 per cent – but the project’s success hinges on delicate negotiations with neighbouring Thailand.
Developers of the 492 million ringgit (US$111.8 million) Perlis Inland Port expect the project’s first phase to be completed by July. This expansion will double the state’s current capacity to 300,000 shipping containers, improving the handling of rising shipments from Thailand’s southern provinces.
Malaysia sees expanded capacity as an opportunity to increase cargo delivery – especially of halal products – to China, with trains expected to reach Chongqing from Perlis in eight days.
Government estimates say that would significantly cut sea transit times from Port Klang, further south, which typically range between 14 and 21 days.
But Malaysia’s plans are contingent on Thailand agreeing to ease customs clearance and pursue a policy to develop its restive south – the last rail segment blocking an ambitious Pan-Asian high-speed railway.
