Malaysia looking at expediting MRT3 construction

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 5): The Malaysian Government may expedite construction of the Mass Rapid Transit 3 (MRT3) in the Klang Valley ahead of its planned completion in 2027 to reap the economic benefits of the project.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said today the proposition was being discussed. Liow said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had been receptive to the idea.

Liow said: "We have planned to complete MRT2 in 2024 and MRT3 in 2027, but looking at the benefits that we can reap from the MRT projects, the ministry has proposed to see whether we can bring forward the completion of MRT3 from 2027. We can start planning now, because the implementation will take five years. It's already 2017 and we don't need to wait another 10 years."

Liow was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Sustainable Urban Transport Summit here today. He did not reveal MRT3's proposed new completion date.

"The prime minister is quite agreeable to the plan to bring it forward, but we will leave the details to the EPU (Economic Planning Unit), SPAD (Land Public Transport Commission) and the Prime Minister's Office. We have to work with the different agencies," he said. — theedgemarkets.com

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