ECRL Extension, Pinglu Canal Set To Enhance Regional Land-sea Connectivity

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- The proposed extension of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) to Rantau Panjang, Kelantan, will create new opportunities for Malaysia to strengthen regional connectivity, particularly following the opening of China's Pinglu Canal, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

The ECRL extension was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim following his recent working visit to China, where Malaysia and China agreed to extend the rail link from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang.

The Pinglu Canal, which officially opened to navigation on Sept 16, is a 134.2-kilometre waterway in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region that connects the Xijiang River system to the Beibu Gulf. Designed to accommodate vessels of up to 5,000 tonnes, the canal provides southwestern China with a shorter route to the sea and ASEAN markets.

Loke said Malaysia and China already have a port alliance, while further discussions on strengthening collaboration between ports in both countries were held during his recent visit to China. He recently accompanied Anwar on a three-day working visit to Shanghai and Hangzhou at the invitation of the Chinese government.

"This will continue to strengthen our collaboration between ports. So, we are also looking forward to having stronger collaboration, especially between Kuantan Port and Guangxi. This is another very important project because it will link Malaysia with Thailand's rail network on the east coast side," the minister told reporters at a press conference after officiating Malaysia Maritime Week 2026 (MMW2026) here today.

Loke said that establishing a link from Thailand to the Malaysian border and subsequently connecting it to the ECRL would create synergies and strengthen the wider Pan-Asian rail network.

"So from Malaysia (to) Thailand, Laos, China, Central Asia, I mean the entire region will be linked up. But it's not just exclusively about rail. Rail must be connected to ports. So it's a land-sea corridor which is very, very important in China, and we are looking at how to integrate our port sector with the rail sector.

"So this will create a very important transportation network for the country and for the region. Hopefully, this will bring more economic value and more value from a strategic and security point of view, and ensure that there will be no disruption to the supply chain," he added.

-- BERNAMA