The Garuda-shaped megaproject off the coast of Makassar

News #231: Bali's $20 billion subway project, Changi Airport T5 construction to start in 2025, land reclamation project in the Gulf of Thailand, bridge collapse in northern Vietnam.

Author

James Clark
September 11, 2024

The Future Southeast Asia Newsletter features transport and urban development news in Southeast Asia, edited by James Clark.

Greetings from rainy Chiang Mai. We are in the remnants of Typhoon Yagi here, while Hanoi is bracing for record floods. There is also flooding in Laos and Chiang Rai.

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This week’s feature article is Part 1 of the Center Point of Indonesia project in Makassar. I visited the project in May this year when I visited the first section of the Trans-Sulawesi Railway. I will write a review of the project (Part 2), but I first had to compile a fact sheet. There is no official website and no Wikipedia page yet, so I have compiled as much information as I could find.

Center Point of Indonesia (CPI) is a waterfront development in Makassar, Indonesia. This new urban area is being built on artificial islands in the shape of a Garuda bird (the national emblem of Indonesia). CPI is opposite the old city waterfront area of Losari Beach.

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Vientiane trip report, watching misinformation propagate over the internet, is the Technopolis the new Cyberjaya? Ugly new urban areas in Vietnam.

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News

🇰🇭 Cambodia

🇮🇩 Indonesia

🇱🇦 Laos

🇲🇾 Malaysia

"Building tall landmarks had long been a source of prestige and national pride for Malaysia’s leaders, but the recent addition of another has the current prime minister suggesting there’s already enough."

 🇵🇭 Philippines

“Unregistered three-wheelers big enough for whole families are a popular antidote to the country's terrible gridlock.”

"The government was urged to rethink the contract it awarded to a consortium led by San Miguel Corp. (SMC) to rehabilitate Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) starting next week."

🇸🇬 Singapore

🇹🇭 Thailand

“Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote is seeking approval from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the State Railway of Thailand’s (SRT) intent to sign one of the last two construction contracts in the first phase of the long-delayed Thai-Chinese high-speed train project.”

“Analysts warn the project could become another white elephant, with funding, long-term viability and possible corruption among serious concerns.”

"Airports of Thailand (AOT) has outlined an expansion of its six international airports to manage 210 million passengers by 2032."

"Proposed by former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, the Bang Khun Thian land reclamation project involves the construction of nine islands in the Gulf of Thailand. While some regard it as a significant mega-project for national investment, it has faced opposition due to concerns about environmental damage and the impact on local ecosystems."

🇻🇳 Vietnam

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