KTM Berhad is trying to persuade the government to review a policy that prohibits the overland transportation of rice from Thailand.

Stating that rail transportation offers a more economical and a safer option than the present all-water movement from Bangkok to Malaysian ports, KTM Berhad is now in discussion with the Ministry of Agriculture over the matter.

Disclosing this freight services general manager of KTM Bhd, Radzak Malik said at present the Ministry allows import permit for rice to be made only by sea.

“We have raised this issue with Ministry of Agriculture and working very closely with the Ministry and Padiberas Nasional Bhd to allow us to transport rice from Thailand via international landbridge operators,” he said.

“After all rail transportation is faster and cheaper,” Radzak added.

Pointing out that the efficacy of this has been made all the more feasible with the regular scheduled the inter-state landbridge services linking Malaysia and Thailand.

“Few years ago there were not even a single landbridge service between Malaysia and Thailand. But today we are operating a total of 28 landbridge train services in this sector per week,” said Radzak.

There are four landbridge operators providing regular landbridge services. TS Transrail Sdn Bhd, Freight Management Sdn Bhd and TS Allied Sdn Bhd plying via Padang Besar to Lat Krabang, Bangsue and Mapta put in Thailand.

PTP Landbdridge Sdn Bhd operates via East Coast network though Sg Golok to inland destinations in Thailand.

The five operators handled some 65,000 TEUs in the first five months of this year.

Radzak hoped the Ministry of Agriculture would consider the merit of KTMB’s proposal seriously.

If the permit is granted, KTMB will count transportation as one of the major commodities moved.

Currently Malaysia imports some 600,000 tonnes of rice annually, of which 40 per cent come from Thailand.

“We are looking at capturing some 100,000 tonnes of the rice from Thailand. This could allow us to operate some 16 block train services per month,” stressed Radzak.

On the domestic block train services, Radzak said since KTM Berhad started its first dedicated block train service with fixed-window between Ipoh Cargo Terminal and Port Klang in 1989, the number of services have grown to 28 dedicated block train service (up and down) per day covering various destinations.