'Kra canal not doom for KL ports'

'Kra canal not doom for KL ports'

KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand's plan to build a canal along the Kra
Isthmus would not spell doom for Malaysian ports even though
business would be hit, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said
Monday.

The Kra canal -- which would allow vessels bound for the
Pacific Ocean to bypass the Malacca Straits -- has been discussed
in Thailand for centuries without any firm conclusions being made
on whether it is viable.

Mahathir said construction of the canal would not mean the end
for Malaysia even though its ports would be affected.

"I am sure even if you build the canal, it does not mean
others will have to close shop. They built the Suez Canal (but)
Cape Town is still there. When they built the Panama Canal, it
did not mean South America becomes redundant," he added. -- AFP