Rantau Panjang checkpoint, one of the three entry points in Kelantan used by tourists to enter Malaysia from Thailand. In the first four months of the year, almost 400,000 tourists entered the country via the three border checkpoints. NSTP/SHARIFAH MAHSINAH ABDULLAH
Rantau Panjang checkpoint, one of the three entry points in Kelantan used by tourists to enter Malaysia from Thailand. In the first four months of the year, almost 400,000 tourists entered the country via the three border checkpoints. NSTP/SHARIFAH MAHSINAH ABDULLAH

KOTA BARU: The Kelantan Assembly was told today the Transport Ministry is studying the viability of resuming the train service between Pasir Mas and Rantau Panjang.

State Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Kamarudin Md Noor said this was aimed at helping to boost the tourism industry in the state, particularly in Rantau Panjang.

"I was informed that the ministry has already received a request from Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd to resume its service from Pasir Mas to Rantau Panjang.

"It is now under the ministry's study. The study will include whether it will have a huge impact on the state's economy.

"I have not received any updates on the matter but the state government hopes the plan will be a success.

"I am confident this will have a great impact to the economy in Kelantan," he said in reply to Apam Putra assemblyman Zamakhshari Muhamad.

Kamarudin also said a total of 387,631 tourists have entered Malaysia via Kelantan's three border checkpoints pf Rantau Panjang, Bukit Bunga and Pengkalan Kubor in the first four months of this year.

"At Rantau Panjang, we recorded more than 240,000 tourists entering Malaysia. This figure was for a four-month period, or about 15,000 tourists in a week."