ECRL: Engage with residents, PN leader tells S'gor govt

The Selangor government has been urged to conduct engagement sessions with residents of Gombak Utara regarding the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.

Gombak Setia assemblyperson Hilman Idham said the state government has yet to engage with the people although works on the project have intensified.

"One of the main issues here is almost all residents are unsure whether their homes, land, or premises will be affected by the project. Some residents are finding their homes suddenly being 'crossed' without notice.

"The residents do not know the areas involved in the project. We wonder why until today, there is yet to be an engagement session to show the approvals given by the state government for the project," the Perikatan Nasional leader told Malaysiakini.

Earlier, Gombak Utara residents voiced their grievances to Malaysiakini, revealing that they were living in fear of flash floods and cracked walls as well as broken tiles - which they claimed was caused by the construction of the mega railway project that stretched across Peninsular Malaysia.

Hilman stressed that the residents do not oppose the ECRL, but are of the opinion that development should be sustainable and ensure the continuity of the people's well-being.

"Thus, we are sorry to say that it seems like the state government has relinquished its responsibility.

"The state government should be the mediator between the rakyat and the owner, and contractor of this project," said Hilman.

Malaysiakini has contacted the Selangor administration for comment.

Explanation needed

Hilman also wanted clarification on several "confusions" surrounding the project.

He questioned how work on the project began even before the project was approved.

"Construction works began more than a month ago, but the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) only gave approval on Oct 6.

"I wonder why the approval was 'fast-tracked', whereas the MPS meeting regarding the project was only held on Oct 3.

"The (MPS) meeting did not care at all about the people's grievances. How can the council greenlight a project this big in three days, when proposals to build surau and mosques in the area can take months, or even years to be okayed?"

Hilman hoped that the state government would conduct an engagement session as soon as possible to answer the questions.

Proactive steps

In response to the villagers’ claims, the ECRL project team, which comprises Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) and China Communications Construction (ECRL) Sdn Bhd (CCC-ECRL), denied claims that it did not engage with Gombak Utara residents.

It stressed that several engagement sessions on the ECRL project had been carried out since the beginning of this year with residents and landowners in Gombak Utara.

“The most recent involved the ‘Majlis Ramah Mesra dan Dialog’ by the ECRL project team at Dewan Orang Ramai Batu 9 on Sept 30, which was also attended by representatives from the MPS and village head’s office, among others.

“The ECRL project team has also taken proactive steps to engage and brief the relevant village heads to ensure that they are aware of the ECRL alignment and works being carried out.

“Furthermore, there are information signboards and hotlines at work sites to enable residents or landowners to call and obtain information,” it added.

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