Ministry hopes ECRL will have more local content — Teresa Kok

 

KUALA LUMPUR (April 13): The Ministry of Primary Industries hopes more local content will be used in the construction of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project following the resumption of the project after months of negotiations.

Minister Teresa Kok Suh Sim, in a statement, said a lot of materials made from Malaysian rubber can be used in the construction of the rail track and for seismic bearings, while Malaysian timber is suitable for use as rail sleepers.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister's Office announced that the ECRL project will resume after Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd and China Communications Construction Company Ltd signed a supplementary agreement in Beijing.

Kok said with this new development, the Ministry hopes that China will make more commitment to purchase Malaysian commodities, especially palm oil and rubber.

She said China has always been an important trading partner for Malaysia and it is the third largest export market for Malaysian palm oil.

“We wish our bilateral ties to be further strengthened with the inking of the (ECRL) deal,” she added.