The Japanese could avoid the west-coast fire-support corridor by moving through the mountains, but that route favors the retreating defender. A British force withdrawing ahead of the pursuit could choose restrictive ground for a blocking position or ambush. The Japanese could ambush that retreat only by first getting in front of it; following through the same route reverses the advantage. The alternative therefore trades exposure to naval gunfire for an inland approach that is easier for the British to obstruct.
Notable Point · 2:54:21-2:54:55
Malaya's mountain route favors the retreating defender
The inland route could avoid coastal gunfire, but its terrain makes a pursuing Japanese force vulnerable to British ambush.