MALAYSIA is prepared to move forward with the development of the Pan-Asian Railway Network (PARN), a strategic rail infrastructure initiative aimed at enhancing trade connectivity with China, Transport Minister Anthony Loke has announced.
The proposed network, which has received backing from Chinese President Xi Jinping, is expected to significantly improve market access between Malaysia and China, particularly for halal products destined for regions such as Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang.
“It also opens up markets in Xinjiang. These regions have significant Muslim populations,” Loke said at a press conference following the Railway Assets Corporation’s (RAC) 2025 appreciation ceremony and Open Day. “This presents opportunities to export halal products to them directly via rail.”
The minister underlined the MADANI government’s commitment to global rail connectivity, describing it as a critical enabler of economic growth and regional cooperation.
Malaysia has already taken preliminary steps with a pilot project, the ASEAN Express, launched in partnership with Thailand’s State Railway (SRT) and China-based logistics firms. The route currently enables cargo transport from Malaysia to Chongqing in just nine days.
“This is a collaboration between KTMB, SRT and partners in China... We hope it can eventually be established as a regular service,” Loke said.
Despite the potential, he acknowledged that regulatory and legal issues remain key hurdles to achieving seamless international rail operations. Malaysia is working with regional counterparts to address these challenges.
The government is also investing heavily in infrastructure upgrades, including the ongoing double-tracking project along the Johor Bahru–Padang Besar line, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
“Upon completion, we will have a continuous double-track railway network from Johor Bahru right up to Padang Besar,” Loke said, adding that the project is central to improving cross-border logistics and trade.
The minister is set to meet Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, on 2 May to further discuss the PARN project and regional rail connectivity.
Loke reiterated his call for ASEAN member states to intensify efforts to link railway systems and strengthen integration, saying cross-border rail links from Peninsular Malaysia to Thailand, Laos and China remain vital to ASEAN’s long-term strategic goals. – April 18, 2025
