The proposed Muse-Mandalay and Mandalay-Kyaukphyu railways are being reported as separate projects, but they should be looked at as the Kunming to Kyaukphyu railway. Ultimately, China wants to turn Kyaukphyu in Rakhine State into a mini Singapore. A railway to a port in the Bay of Bengal would allow shipments to bypass shipping via the Malacca Strait.

Like many of the posts at Living In Asia, this week’s article is a roundup of known facts and other news reports. It doesn’t mean it’s going to happen anytime soon, but I have prepared this fact sheet for future reference.

Latest Posts at Living In Asia

Muse-Mandalay-Kyaukphyu Railway

The Muse-Mandalay-Kyaukphyu railway project is two proposed railways that make up the Myanmar section of the China-Myanmar railway.

Updated Posts

Malaysia

Malaysia to fork out RM2b for mega project termination

HSR Project might be revisited when economy is more stable

• Added to Kuala Lumpur–Singapore high-speed rail

Vietnam

5 km, $200 mln could be cut for high-speed HCMC-Mekong Delta rail

• Added to Mekong Delta Railway

Other News

Cambodia

Hun Sen: Lakes filled in for national developments

Prince Real Estate Group expands its business to Siem Reap and Sihanoukville

China

Can soft power rejuvenate China’s Belt and Road?

NBBJ’s Nanjing Technology Park offers a glimpse of China’s green future

Hong Kong

In ‘coffin homes’ and ‘cages,’ Hong Kong lockdown exposes inequality

“The city’s notorious tenement apartments are potential hotbeds of transmission, with their cramped quarters, faulty piping and poor ventilation.”

Indonesia

Eastern Indonesia may become hub for large scale PV deployment

Indonesia is close to naming chief for $100 billion wealth fund

“The investment authority will play a key role in financing big-ticket projects from infrastructure and healthcare to tourism and technology. It will solicit local and global investors to participate in sub-funds for particular projects.”

Indonesia to develop new capital city after vaccine drive

“Indonesia remains committed to developing a new capital city in East Kalimantan province, which will start after the national Covid-19 vaccination program scheduled for completion in March 2022, according to a media report.”

Japan

Tokyo apartment prices rise to near bubble-era high in 2020

Malaysia

Najib slams sale of Golden Triangle buildings to Singaporeans

Myanmar

The inside story of Thailand and Myanmar’s troubled Dawei mega-project

Hotel construction threatens Myanmar’s World Heritage site at Bagan

Philippines

China-backed group loses $10bn Philippine airport project

MinDA to convene Mindanao gov’t officials to tackle delayed projects

“The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) will convene Mindanao leaders and other national government officials next month to address long-delayed and other vital infrastructure projects as the Duterte comes to its last 18 months in office.”

Singapore

Larger sites, signature events and landmark developments among ideas for Jurong Lake District

Work begins on Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link station

Is Canberra the new ghost town of Singapore?

“Every neighbourhood in Singapore has a reputation: Bukit Timah is old money, Sentosa Cove is new money, Marine Parade is for the beach lovers, Sengkang is for the young liberal middle-class families, Joo Chiat and Tiong Bahru are for the trendy expats, and Yishun is just … ratchet. 

But there’s one neighbourhood I just can’t put my finger on: Canberra. And it appears no one else can either.”

S'porean photographer, 44, documents disappearing places in S'pore for son

Thailand

Hua Lamphong’s 100-year service to end in November, gov’t says

“The historic Bangkok Railway Station, or Hua Lamphong, will cease its operation later this year after a century of service, state railway officials said Friday.”

Riverside hotel slated for 2025

Vietnam

In Vietnam, air pollution a bigger daily threat than Covid-19, as smog envelops Hanoi

Ninh Binh proposes construction of local airport within 10 years

After posting an article last week about proposed new airports in Southeast Asia, Nimh Binh in Vietnam is now adding themselves to the list by proposing a new airport.

Brush strokes: Preserving Saigon’s heritage signage