INTERVIEW | As many megaprojects from the era of Najib Abdul Razak are undergoing review and may potentially be scrapped, the DAP national political education director Liew Chin Tong has proposed a different route for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.

Instead of tunnelling through the Titiwangsa Range as proposed under the project, he suggested that the train line could run further south and connect to KTM’s West Coast Line through Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, where there is already an existing rail line.

“For example, if you want to go to the east coast (from the west coast), there is KTM. Of course, the problem here is that you need to interchange in Gemas before heading north (towards Kelantan). But we have already laid down train tracks, so why not improve upon the existing foundations?

“There is a very fundamental reason why the British built our train tracks such that it requires an interchange in Gemas (south of Kuala Lumpur) before turning back north, with the mountain range running through the middle (of Peninsular Malaysia).

“If you are to tunnel through the mountains, the cost becomes much higher. So why not strengthen the existing infrastructure? If we can, then can bring down the cost significantly and give KTM a new lease of life,” he told Malaysiakini during an interview last week.

He said although megaprojects such as the ECRL, MRT, and LRT extensions are being funded through loans given to the government’s special purpose vehicles (SPVs), these loans are ultimately guaranteed by the government and it is questionable whether the SPVs can recoup the high costs incurred.

Hence, he said it is important for the costs to be brought down.

The cost of the first phase of the ECRL project is RM55 billion and will run from Tumpat in Kelantan along the coast of South China Sea to Kuantan in Pahang, and then turn west to run through the Titiwangsa Range to reach Gombak in Selangor.

A second phase would extend the rail line further west towards Port Klang in the Straits of Malacca.

'I will help where I can'

Liew, who had written on public transport issues on numerous occasions, was originally slated for the transport minister portfolio.

However, the plan did not materialise after Liew was defeated in the recent election by Wee Ka Siong for the Ayer Hitam seat – the only MCA leader to have won a parliamentary seat.

Instead, DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke was appointed as transport minister.

During the interview, Liew who also chairs the board of trustees of the DAP-linked think tank Research for Social Advancement (Refsa), said he would continue to provide advice to various leaders in his many areas of interest.

These include economy, foreign affairs, and most notably transport as Loke happens to be his close friend.

“I think this restructuring (of the new government) will need a lot of new ideas. I will help where I can,” Liew added.

Loke had previously indicated that he was prepared to engage Liew for ideas regarding the ministry.

Meanwhile, Liew said he would continue to work in Ayer Hitam although it is still uncertain whether he will be fielded there again as a candidate.

Read more

Chin Tong: A different K'tan, had Nik Omar joined earlier

New government needs to focus on reforms, says DAP leader

DAP leader moots a multiracial Bersatu