VIDEO: Malaysia Mulling Over US$20 Bil Undersea Tunnel From Perak To Indonesia's Sumatra

Malaysia Mulling Over US$20 Bil Undersea Tunnel From Perak To Indonesia's Sumatra

19 March 2018 

SERDANG: The government is looking into the possibility of constructing an undersea tunnel to connect the island of Sumatra, Indonesia to peninsular Malaysia in the future, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

Filepic: DEPMO

The proposed tunnel would connect the district of Bagan Datuk in Perak to Sumatra – the sixth largest island in the world – via an undersea route that would cut through the Straits of Malacca, he said.

He added the cost for the mega project, the first of its kind connecting the peninsular and Indonesia, was projected to be at around US$20 billion (RM78.14 billion).

"Engagement is being done with parties outside of the administration of the federal and state governments," he said.

"Therefore, it will be a private initiative and we leave it to the private sector to get the necessary approvals (from Malaysia and Indonesia)," he told a press conference after attending the National Transformation 2050 (TN50) Bagan Datuk at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang.

Ahmad Zahid said the government had held discussions with its Indonesian counterpart to look into the possibility of constructing the undersea tunnel.

He added the environmental impact assessment would also be conducted to gauge the practicability of such project.

"As it would involve the cooperation of members of Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), several procedures need to be followed," he said.

"Full approval must be received from the Malaysian and Indonesia governments, as well as the governors of several provinces in Indonesia," he added.

Malaysia Post

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Earlier at the TN50 event, Ahmad Zahid said the undersea tunnel, once completed, would boost the economy of both countries through trade as well as transforming Bagan Datuk into a national logistics hub.

He added the undersea tunnel would allow for more connectivity to other regions in Malaysia once the West Coast Expressway (WCE) is completed.

"From Bagan Datuk we can get to Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh via the WCE. From Ipoh to Bukit Kayu Hitam (in Kedah), to Bangkok, Kunming and Beijing (in China).

"The starting point of it all is Bagan Datuk," he said.

On another the issue, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said a special prison would be built in Bagan Datuk to place those involved in terrorist activities.

Speaking on his future plans, Ahmad Zahid said he was uncertain whether he would defend his parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election.

Ahmad Zahid, who is Bagan Datuk MP, said he had informed his intention of not contesting in the GE15 to his friends in Barisan Nasional.

"Insyaallah (God willing), I will quit (from politics) before I reach the age of 93," he said in a jest, which was met by laughter by hundreds of participants at the National Transformation 2050 (TN50) Bagan Datuk dialogue session at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang.

His remarks are believed to be directed at Pakatan Harapan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was named by the opposition coalition as the prime minister candidate.

Mahathir is 93.

Ahmad Zahid has held to the Bagan Datuk seat since 1995.

- TheSunDaily

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