Reinforcing Malaya against the landward threat

Would Japan's approach through Thailand still undermine the defence of Malaya in this counterfactual?

Yes, the landward threat remains, but making Singapore indispensable would increase pressure to rush reinforcements from India and possibly North Africa.

A larger fleet would not remove Japan's landward approach through Thailand. The argument instead changes the priority given to Malaya and the urgency of sending reinforcements. Historical delays are discussed alongside Churchill's reluctance to release troops while fighting continued in North Africa. In the expanded counterfactual, forces from India and possibly formations withdrawn from North Africa would be rushed across the Indian Ocean. The proposed defence therefore depends on a different allocation of troops as well as naval concentration.