KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed the Malaysian government’s commitment to leveraging flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects.
This will not be treated only as high-profile infrastructure, but as catalysts to rebalance growth and expand Malaysia’s role in regional supply chains, he said.
Speaking in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) during his visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, Anwar highlighted how the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and the Kuantan Port expansion will reshape the country’s economic geography.
The 665-kilometre ECRL, now nearly 90 per cent completed, has been described as one of the crown jewels of BRI cooperation in Malaysia.
Anwar stressed that its impact goes beyond steel and tracks.
“The uniqueness is that it covers the city, the suburbs, and crucially, the rural heartland — including some of the poorest regions.
“It provides modern connectivity, but the flagship element is not just the stations.
“The strategy is to build small business operations around every stop, so growth is inclusive,” Anwar said.
Once completed, the RM74 billion project is expected to cut travel time between the east and west coasts from seven hours to four, reduce logistics costs, and stimulate industries ranging from agriculture to manufacturing.
Anwar recounted his visit to remote northern communities near the Thai border, where he urged local officials to ensure the railway’s benefits extend to wider development — urban facilities, small enterprises and job creation.
With completion now in sight, discussions are also underway to extend the line another 25km to the Malaysia–Thailand border, he said.
“This way, we don’t just stop at the northern tip of Malaysia, but link directly with Thailand,” Anwar noted, adding that the project’s potential role in cross-border trade and integration across mainland South-east Asia.
Kuantan Port as the east coast gateway
Anwar also pointed to the expansion of Kuantan Port — closely tied to the Malaysia–China Kuantan Industrial Park — as another transformative project.
Long overshadowed by west coast industrial hubs, the east coast has historically lagged behind in development.
For Anwar, Kuantan’s growth represents a chance to correct that imbalance.
“Kuantan Port will be a very important base and vehicle for trade —not just with China, but also with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.
“The wisdom here is to expand opportunities where development has been marginalised in the past, and turn it into an important growth centre,” he explained.
The port expansion will double handling capacity, enabling it to support high-value manufacturing and complex supply chains.
Malaysia already ranks among the world’s top players in shipping logistics — Port Klang and Tanjung Pelepas consistently sit within the top 15 busiest ports globally — and Kuantan’s rise is expected to add a new dimension by strengthening east coast connectivity.
“For Malaysia, a relatively small country, to have ports in the global top 10 is remarkable.
“But the real story is about ensuring the east coast and rural regions also share in the nation’s prosperity,” he said.
