"Abhisit" says the government made the right decision to cancel the "Landbridge" plan, supports moving forward with the "Missing Link" project, and recommends further developing the "Southern Connect" concept to continue progress.
On 25 July 2026, Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, gave an interview regarding the government's decision to cancel the Landbridge project and instead proceed with the Missing Link project. He expressed gratitude to the government for basing its decision on correct facts and principles in analyzing and halting the project, aligning with the recommendations the party has consistently made.
Abhisit stated that although the Landbridge project has been terminated, development in the South must continue systematically, including railways, roads, and ports, to enable local people to export goods and connect with the global economy effectively. He proposed that the government consider the Democrat Party's "Southern Connect" concept as part of its decision-making process.
The Democrat Party leader added that the Missing Link project is similar to the Southern Connect concept, which includes the dual-track railway projects left over from the Chuan Leekpai government, especially the development of additional east-west routes. Therefore, he urged the government to prioritize transportation projects to facilitate efficient freight transport and connections with neighboring countries.
"If this is successfully done, it will be more beneficial than the Landbridge project because it carries less risk, has actual users, is economically worthwhile, and impacts the area less. The Democrat Party is fully ready to support this," Abhisit said.
When asked whether opinions on the Missing Link project from other political parties should be considered, Abhisit pointed out that the government can immediately use the Democrat Party's cost-benefit study to replace the Landbridge project, especially for developing ports on both coasts (Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand). He views connecting the Andaman side between Songkhla and Penang as requiring less investment and having many users, since some existing infrastructure already supports this, which is completely different from the Landbridge project.