THE House of Representatives today (May 29) voted to reject a motion on setting up a committee to study the Land Bridge project while MPs of the coalition government, particularly Bhumjaithai Party, urged proponents of this panel to summarise they views and submit it to the cabinet for consideration, Naewna newspaper said.
After a debate on five Land Bridge project motions stretched for two days, House Speaker Sophon Saram called for a vote with 266 MPs rejecting the setup of a special panel to study the 1-trillion-baht megascheme and favouring submitting recommendations to the Cabinet, 174 were for setting up the panel while 3 abstained.
During the debate Democrat leader/MP Abhisit Vejjajiva strongly cautioned against the potential impact on national security if the South China Sea turned into a battleground. Meanwhile, People’s leader/MP Nattapong Ruangpanyawut proposed studying the “Southern Bioeconomy Corridor” instead, hoping to develop the region according to the needs of the southern people.
Abhisit said the Land Bridge scheme is a myth that promises nothing, especially regarding cargo ships. He argued that the view that the southern region will struggle without the project is false, as the area will receive almost no benefit, with the land being used solely as a transit route for goods. Only contractors and land speculators will benefit.
He suggested that improving the lives of people in all southern provinces could be achieved through other means, such as developing ports and creating a logistics network like Southern Connect, which would be less expensive.
“The South needs to develop and prosper more, utilising its existing resources, not just being a transit route for foreigners.
“If we insist on a project that no one will use, what’s left unfinished will be a monument to a wrong decision, or a decision that only considered the interests of a handful of people.
“If we consider such a project, given its lack of cost-effectiveness, the most frightening aspect is security concerns. If it’s pushed as a strategic point — many people have mentioned the Suez Canal, the Panama Canal, and now the Strait of Hormuz — historically, these have become battlefields.
“If the land bridge project goes ahead, the conflicts in the South China Sea could inevitably lead to these two superpowers seizing the area. They might even seize it during the PPP (Public-Private Partnership) process, as international news reports indicate that the US and China disagreed over the Panama Canal because Chinese companies controlled shipping lanes, leading to conflict and pressure on Panama,” Abhisit said.
Meanwhile, Nattapong closed the debate by stating that the Land Bridge project does not address the development needs of the southern region. He proposed using the Southern Bioeconomy Corridor as a base and framework for development, including upgrading agriculture to ensure stability and investing in and upgrading infrastructure to support daily life, such as potable water, quality education, and a good healthcare system.
Based on preliminary figures, an investment of 500 billion baht would generate 4% annual GDP growth, reduce debt by 30%, and improve income levels.
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page – Democrat leader/MP Abhisit Vejjajiva, left, and People’s leader/MP Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, right. Both photos – MNG Online
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