All Aboard the East Coast Rail

Abstract

The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) forms a key component of China’s regional infrastructure plans while promising local development and enhanced economic growth. The project is also Beijing’s answer to its “Malacca Dilemma”. There are, however, immense challenges to the project, such as transparency, economic viability and local stakeholder concerns. This article analyses the geoeconomic regional implications of the ECRL and discusses the project in the context of Malaysia’s internal dynamics.