M’sia to use Asean to hold talks

MALAYSIA will use Asean to hold talks with Thailand over the Kra Canal project.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator Datuk Seri S.K Devamany said Thailand has no interest in building the canal, said to be linked to a part of China’s One Belt One Road and Maritime Silk Route initiatives.

“Thailand has not made any decision and recently said that it is not interested in building the canal,” he said when answering a question by Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim (BN-Kuala Selangor).

He said the proposal was never raised or discussed by Thailand in Asean.

However, he said Malaysia will resort to Asean and other regional economic pacts to hold talks with Thailand if the project eventually takes off.

In September, Thailand Ambassador to Kuala Lumpur Damrong Kraikruan said the Kra Canal was not a viable project.