2027 Budget: Residents want govt to resume Rantau Panjang train services
PASIR MAS: The resumption of train services from Rantau Panjang to Sungai Golok, Thailand, is among the local residents’ ‘wishlist’ items ahead of the tabling of the 2027 Budget on Oct 9, which they believe could revive the town’s economy.
Residents of Rantau Panjang are eagerly awaiting the 2027 Budget, hoping the government will resume train services to Sungai Golok, Thailand. This revival, they believe, could breathe new life into their town's economy. Rantau Panjang, once a popular destination with bustling passenger and cargo trains crossing the border, now faces an overgrown railway station and damaged buildings due to abandonment.
Mohamad Naziz Abdul Zaman, a 48-year-old resident, expressed his disappointment, noting that the station appeared to have been refurbished around 2019 before train services were discontinued. He hopes that the 2027 Budget will allocate funds for the reconstruction of the station and the reactivation of the railway line, which could significantly boost trade and tourism in the border area.
Local resident Mohamad Abdul Fatah, 75, who has lived in Rantau Panjang for 40 years, echoed the sentiment, expressing happiness at the prospect of resuming train services. He believes this move would not only rejuvenate the local economy but also benefit younger generations and local traders who rely on visitors from Malaysia and Thailand.
Sukri Zakaria, a 54-year-old motorcycle taxi operator, welcomed the government's efforts to redevelop the railway station. He believes the revitalization could help restore Rantau Panjang's former glory, reminiscent of the vibrant atmosphere of the 1990s, thereby attracting more customers to his business.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
