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PAS : KE ARAH PEMERINTAHAN ISLAM YANG ADIL
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Apakah kesan pembinaan Terusan Kra di Selatan Siam kepada politik, ekonomi dan sosial
Malaysia dan Singapura ?
Apakah ini peluang Mahathir untuk membina satu lagi megaproject "Pelabuhan Terbesar
Dunia" di Perlis ?
Berapa % untuk Mirzan, Marina, Mukriz dan Mokzani, serta Sami, Liong Sick, Ummi
Hafilda dan Daim ?
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http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/asia/sea1_0429.html
APR 29, 2000
'No' to nuclear blasts to build Kra Canal
Experts quickly reject the use of nuclear explosions in the massive $39b
Thai project as too environmentally threatening
By JAMES EAST
IN BANGKOK
THE use of nuclear explosions to help excavate a massive canal across
Thailand has been ruled out by experts investigating the US$23 billion
(S$39 billion) plan.
Suggestions that so-called PNEs -- peaceful nuclear explosions -- be set
off were dismissed out of hand as too environmentally damaging by experts
examining the feasibility of the Kra Canal despite their potential to cut
work costs by billions.
Thailand's parliament will be asked to approve a feasibility study into
building the canal using more conventional excavation methods as part of an
effort to kick-start interest in the mega-infrastructure project.
The Kra Canal would dissect southern Thailand, from western Satun to
Songkla, allowing ships to travel between the Indian and Pacific oceans
without negotiating the Malacca Straits and passing via Singapore.
The canal would cut 585 km from the journey and, according to proponents,
save up to 36 hours in transport time.
A new US$10 million investigation would update previous studies.
Panel adviser Pakdee Tanapura cites the projected growth in shipping as a
major reason why the canal is essential. Time and cost savings are less
important.
"At the present time there are approximately 150,000 ships passing through
the Malacca Straits," he said.
"With an expected annual growth rate of 10 per cent, we can expect by the
year 2020 there will most likely be over 450,000 ships."
The straits faced over-congestion if nothing was done, he said.
Backers of the canal say Thailand is ideally placed between the world's
most populous areas -- the Indian sub-continent and Southeast Asia/China to
take advantage of the problem.
By 2020 the canal could be handling 100,000 vessels a year, they say.
Building the canal -- more than 24 m deep and over 100 km long -- would be
a massive undertaking involving the excavation of three billion cubic
metres of earth.
Proponents say it would ultimately create three million jobs and should be
compared to America's post-WWII Marshall plan in its ability to boost and
mature Thailand's economy and bring prosperity to Thailand's south.
Critics say the canal would be a costly white elephant which would not save
vessels time or money. They also fear the potential for environmental
disaster involving tankers.
Previous fears that the canal would split Thailand in two and strengthen
Muslim secessionist claims in the far south have fizzled with the decline
of the separatist cause.
Those in favour do a good job of talking down the objectors.
They say that even Singapore, traditionally opposed to the canal because of
its potential to take away lucrative shipping business, seems to be coming
around to the idea.
With more than enough business to go around, Singapore operators might even
be able to work the transshipment ports linked to the canal.
Singapore ports operator PSA Corp already operates Asian ventures in
Brunei, China, India and South Korea.
Mr Hisao Shibusawa, an investment adviser to Japan's Global Infrastructure
Fund, which is pushing the canal idea, says it is not possible to raise
enough money for an expensive fully-fledged study given the current state
of Thailand's economy.
"Although a feasibility study is highly desirable it is not pragmatic at
this time," he said.
"We have to divide it into separate studies."
This way the government and public opinion could be persuaded that the
canal would be a good thing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The unending project
THE Kra canal project must rank as one of the longest-running
infrastructure ideas. King Narai of Ayudhya first suggested it in 1677,
intending to use thousands of workers armed with shovels. Thai ships could
then use the canal to wage war on Burma.
A massive increase in merchant cargo and expected congestion of the
Malacca Straits are now the issues spurring a revival of the canal plan.
Last month a panel of academics and military people working for
Thailand's Defence Commission, with parliament's approval, ruled that the
canal was feasible but that a new study was needed to look into the costs
and benefits.
The panel quickly threw out a suggestion dating from the 1970s that PNEs
-- peaceful nuclear explosions -- be employed as a way of making use of
surplus weapons.
Panel adviser Pakdee Tanapura, a canal fan, says the panel is proposing
that the government conduct a study.
Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com
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