Large tracts of forest reserves in Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor will have to make way for the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL).

According to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, the area involved totals 357ha, which is approximately five times the size of the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX).

The affected area is home to leopards, elephants, sun bears, tapirs, gaur, mousedeer and wild boars, according to the ministry.

"Among the effects of the ECRL project on the affected area are habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, human-animal conflict, poaching, obstacles to aminal migration and roadkills," the ministry said in a parliamentary written reply to Bagan Serai MP Noor Azmi Ghazali...