Rantau Panjang wants its buzz back — and traders hope ECRL is the answer

Rantau Panjang, once a thriving border town, has experienced a decline in commercial activity and visitor numbers, impacting local businesses.

The proposed extension of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang is anticipated as a significant catalyst for economic revitalization by increasing accessibility and boosting trade.

Local traders express hope that the ECRL will restore the town's vibrancy and address challenges like customer concerns over taxation.

The initiative aligns with government efforts to enhance cross-border connectivity and economic opportunities in the area.

PASIR MAS, Oct 2 — Rantau Panjang was once a bustling border town, alive with the pulse of trade; however, the passage of time and a decline in visitor numbers have left some premises quiet, while the remaining traders continue to hope for a turnaround.

The proposal to extend the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) alignment from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is seen not merely as a new transport option, but as a potential catalyst to revitalize economic activities in the town.

For those who have earned their livelihood there for decades, ECRL represents more than just tracks and trains; it offers a chance to see Rantau Panjang return to being a bustling, vibrant hub that draws crowds once again.

A Bernama survey of Rantau Panjang town found that while some businesses are operating as usual, others remain closed reflecting a shift in the business landscape compared to the vibrance locals once experienced.

For the traders who have persevered, customer volume is a key factor in business survival, consequently, any initiative to improve accessibility and the flow of people to the area is eagerly awaited.

Rantau Panjang resident Syed Abu Bakar Syed Daud, 65, who has lived in the area for over 50 years said he has personally witnessed the town's transformation, particularly regarding the number of visitors and traders.

Having started his business more than 44 years ago, he noted that the slump in commercial activity has impacted his own income, forcing him to close two grocery shops and an eatery over the past year.

“When this town was still ‘alive,’ over 1,000 traders operated here, but now fewer than 30 per cent remain, even though visitor numbers are merely modest. In the past, I could make over RM1,000 in daily sales, but before closing my shop, there were times when it was difficult to reach that amount even over two or three days,” he told Bernama recently.

According to Syed Abu Bakar, the shift became more pronounced following the Covid-19 pandemic, as visitor numbers and business activity in the town failed to return to previous levels.

He noted that the proposal to extend the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) to Rantau Panjang offers a glimmer of hope for traders who wish to see the area become a hub of activity once again.

“I was delighted to hear the news that the ECRL is set to be extended to Rantau Panjang. We certainly hope that more people will visit and that the town can come back to life,” he said.

For trader Fu Chee Kat, 81, who has been doing business in Rantau Panjang for over 30 years, changing customer patterns have also impacted his operations.

He previously ran two shops selling various goods including kitchenware and bedsheets and employed six workers; however, he was forced to close one shop two years ago and now retains only one employee.

He added that one of the issues raised by customers is their concern regarding taxes on goods purchased in the area.

“There are customers who said they were reluctant to come and shop in this town due to concerns about being charged tax. There are times when they are taxed even after purchasing just a single item. Therefore, I hope the government will look into this matter and re-evaluate it, particularly regarding retail purchases; perhaps the tax could be abolished for retail and applied only to wholesale purchases,” he said.

Fu said if the ECRL extension materialises, the increase in visitor numbers could benefit local traders who still rely on commercial activities in the town.

In this regard, resident Rozila Salleh, 55, expressed deep appreciation of the Madani Government's under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the focus on the development of Rantau Panjang.

She hopes the proposed ECRL extension would drive development and improve transport accessibility in the border area.

“Rantau Panjang is indeed one of the main gateways to Thailand, so extending the ECRL here would provide residents and visitors with another transport option alongside the current land routes.

“We greatly appreciate the Prime Minister and the Madani Government's attention to development in border areas like Rantau Panjang. We hope this initiative becomes a reality, as it would not only benefit residents but also open up broader economic opportunities for local traders,” she said.

Media reports previously indicated that Malaysia and China had agreed to the proposal to extend the ECRL project from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang, a move with the potential to establish a direct transport link with Thailand.

Anwar reportedly said the proposal could not only boost the economy of Kelantan’s interior which had previously seen limited development spillover but also strengthen cross-border transport connectivity.

In August, Transport Minister Anthony Loke reportedly said that ECRL Phase 1 (Kota Bharu to Gombak) is targeted to begin operations this December ahead of the original January 2027 schedule subject to the smooth progress of testing and commissioning processes, including System Integration Tests and the Fault-Free Run, without compromising safety. — Bernama

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兰道班让曾经是一个繁荣的边境小镇，但如今商业活动和游客数量都在下降，对当地企业造成了影响。

拟议中的东海岸铁路（ECRL）从哥打巴鲁延伸至兰道班让，预计将通过提高交通便利性和促进贸易，成为经济复兴的重要催化剂。

当地商户表示希望东海岸铁路能够恢复该镇的活力，并解决诸如顾客对税收的担忧等挑战。

该举措与政府为加强该地区跨境互联互通和经济机遇所做的努力相一致。

巴西马斯，10 月 2 日讯——兰道班让曾经是一个熙熙攘攘的边境小镇，贸易繁荣；然而，随着时间的流逝和游客数量的减少，一些店铺变得冷清，而剩下的商贩们仍在期盼着生意能够好转。

首相拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣宣布将东海岸铁路（ECRL）线路从哥打巴鲁延伸至兰道班让，这一提议不仅被视为一种新的交通选择，而且被视为振兴该镇经济活动的潜在催化剂。

对于那些在那里谋生几十年的人来说，东海岸铁路不仅仅代表着铁轨和火车；它还提供了一个机会，让兰道班让重新成为一个熙熙攘攘、充满活力的枢纽，再次吸引人群。

马新社对兰道班让镇的一项调查发现，虽然一些企业照常营业，但其他企业仍然关闭，这反映出商业环境与当地居民曾经经历的繁荣景象相比发生了变化。

对于那些坚持下来的商户来说，客流量是企业生存的关键因素，因此，任何改善该地区交通便利性和人流量的举措都备受期待。

兰道班让居民赛义德·阿布·巴卡尔·赛义德·达乌德（65岁）在该地区生活了50多年，他说他亲眼目睹了该镇的变迁，尤其是在游客和商贩的数量方面。

他44年前开始创业，他注意到商业活动的低迷影响了他的收入，迫使他在过去一年里关闭了两家杂货店和一家餐馆。

“这座小镇鼎盛时期，曾有超过1000家商户在此经营，但现在只剩下不到30%，尽管游客数量并不多。过去，我每天的营业额能超过1000令吉，但在关门歇业之前，有时两三天都很难达到这个数额。”他最近告诉马新社。

据赛义德·阿布·巴卡尔称，新冠疫情爆发后，这种转变变得更加明显，因为该镇的游客数量和商业活动未能恢复到以前的水平。

他指出，将东海岸铁路（ECRL）延伸至兰道班让的提议，为希望该地区再次成为商业中心的商户们带来了一线希望。

“我很高兴听到东海岸铁路将延伸至兰道班让的消息。我们当然希望会有更多人来这里旅游，让这座小镇重现昔日的活力，”他说。

对于在兰道班让经营了 30 多年的 81 岁商人傅志杰来说，不断变化的客户模式也影响了他的经营。

他之前经营两家商店，出售包括厨具和床单在内的各种商品，雇佣了六名员工；然而，两年前他被迫关闭了一家商店，现在只剩下一名员工。

他还补充说，顾客提出的问题之一是他们对在该地区购买商品的税收问题感到担忧。

“有些顾客表示，他们因为担心被征税而不愿来这个镇购物。有时，即使只买了一件商品，他们也会被征税。因此，我希望政府能够调查此事并重新评估，特别是针对零售交易；或许可以取消零售税，只对批发交易征税，”他说。

傅先生表示，如果东海岸铁路延伸段得以实现，游客数量的增加可能会使仍然依赖该镇商业活动的当地商户受益。

对此，55岁的居民罗兹拉·萨利赫对首相拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣领导的马达尼政府重视兰道班让的发展表示深切感谢。

她希望拟议中的东海岸铁路延伸段能够促进边境地区的发展，并改善该地区的交通便利性。

“兰道班让确实是泰国的主要门户之一，因此将东海岸铁路延伸至此将为居民和游客提供除现有陆路路线之外的另一种交通选择。

“我们非常感谢总理和马达尼政府对兰道班让等边境地区发展的关注。我们希望这项举措能够成为现实，因为它不仅有利于当地居民，还能为当地商户创造更广阔的经济机遇。”她说道。

媒体此前报道称，马来西亚和中国已同意将东海岸铁路项目从哥打巴鲁延伸至兰道班让，此举有可能建立与泰国的直接交通连接。

据报道，安华表示，该提案不仅可以促进吉兰丹内陆地区的经济发展（此前该地区的发展外溢作用有限），还可以加强跨境交通联系。

据报道，交通部长陆兆福8月份表示，东海岸铁路一期工程（哥打巴鲁至鹅唛段）计划于今年12月提前于原定的2027年1月投入运营，前提是测试和调试过程进展顺利，包括系统集成测试和无故障运行，且不影响安全。——马新社

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