Former transport minister urges govt to retain Harapan's ECRL line
Former transport minister Anthony Loke has called on the current government to retain the current East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) alignment as planned by the previous Pakatan Harapan government.
Among others, Loke (above) said the previous government’s alteration of the original alignment of the rail project was able to save RM21.5 billion upon negotiations.
Former transport minister Anthony Loke has called on the current government to retain the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) alignment as was planned by the previous Pakatan Harapan government.
Loke (above) said the previous government’s alteration of the original alignment of the rail project was able to save RM21.5 billion upon negotiations.
“The original cost of the project was RM65.5 billion. After negotiations and change of the alignment, the cost was reduced to RM44 billion... The savings could benefit other transportation infrastructure projects.
“The realignment was able to reduce the cost as it will avoid the 18km tunnel along the Titiwangsa Range across Genting Highlands to Gombak... It will also save the Klang Gate Quartz Ridge that was to be destroyed if the tunnel is built," he said in a Facebook posting today.
Loke further said Harapan's proposal would see the ECRL passing through five states - Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, and Selangor - leading to spillover development gains for areas along the route.
At the end of the line, he said the ECRL will directly reach Westport - already the country's busiest container hub - through Pulau Carey which has been identified as a potential site for a mega port.
"With an added rail line, it will contribute to the area's strategic development plans," he said.
Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong (photo) yesterday said the suggestion to revert the ECRL back to BN's proposed alignment first came from Pahang MB Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.
Wee, who argued that BN's original alignment can better serve logistical and population demands, also said there was no final decision made yet.
Under the original alignment by BN, the ECRL would pass through Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang before entering Selangor from the north through Gombak and making its way to Serendah and Port Klang.
Earlier yesterday, Umno's Jelebu MP Jalaluddin Alias objected to the proposal to revert to BN's original ECRL alignment and wanted to maintain the new alignment by Harapan that passes through Kuala Klawang which is within his parliamentary constituency.
Negeri Sembilan exco Teo Kok Seong also said he had represented Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun in the National Physical Planning Council meeting on June 11 and expressed the state's objections to reverting the ECRL alignment.
