Bangkok: Democrat Party list lawmaker Abhisit Vejjajiva has thrown his support behind the formation of a special parliamentary committee to examine the proposed 1-trillion-baht Landbridge project. He issued a warning that the mega-project depends on misconceptions and could pose significant economic, environmental, and security risks.
According to Thai News Agency, the Landbridge project aims to bypass the Malacca Strait by connecting Thailand's Andaman and Gulf coasts through rail and road infrastructure. However, Abhisit informed parliament that the anticipated four-day shipping time savings might not be realistic due to potential loading delays. He further suggested that transit costs could potentially triple, undermining the project's financial viability.
Abhisit emphasized the importance of understanding the true costs associated with the project to avoid creating what he termed a "monument to poor decision-making" that would benefit only a select few. He highlighted that academics have universally opposed the project, citing irreversible threats to southern Thailand's World Heritage sites, biodiversity, and ecotourism.
The lawmaker proposed that the state budget would be more effectively used on regional motorways, dual-track railways connecting to Malaysia and Singapore, and local port upgrades. Such investments, he argued, would benefit all southern provinces rather than serving primarily as a transit point for foreign cargo.
Abhisit also warned that attracting foreign private investment could lead to the development of petrochemical industries, which might be contrary to the interests of the region.