MRL urges Selangor to reconsider its opposition to Putrajaya's plan to revert ECRL to its original alignment

KUALA LUMPUR (March 26): Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) today urged the Selangor state government to reconsider its opposition to the federal government's wish to revert the proposed alignment of the East Coast Rail Link to the original plan, saying this will only further delay the construction of ECRL’s Section C (Mentakab-Port Klang) and potentially delay the scheduled overall completion of the project by December 2026.

In a statement, MRL chairman Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali expressed his concern and disappointment that Selangor is adamant on defending its stand for the rail network to traverse via a southern route across Negeri Sembilan and Putrajaya — as opposed to the northern route via Gombak and Serendah, as announced by the Minister of Transport recently.

Selangor Executive Councillor for Infrastructure & Public Amenities Izham Hashimits announced the state's stand on the issue on Wednesday. 

“The statement made by the Executive Councillor was a real letdown especially after MRL as the project owner had made countless engagements with the Selangor State Government and its agencies in the past eight months from June 2020 until February this year on the plan to revert to the original alignment for the ECRL project.

“MRL has briefed all relevant state agencies in Selangor on the many advantages of reverting to the original alignment and original product scope which also includes a rail bypass line from Serendah to Port Klang for KTMB. In fact, engagements have received constructive feedback from the Selangor State Government’s technical departments and agencies,” Zuki said.

MRL, he said, has also addressed all issues raised by the various state agencies in the reversion to the ECRL original alignment, as well as provided solutions and mitigations involving environmental protection, and how to minimise social impact and improve rail connectivity, among others.

“For example, MRL has presented a definitive solution to the issue of safeguarding the Gombak Quartz Ridge by designing an alignment that traverse through an existing road for ECRL to cross the quartz ridge,” he said, adding encroachment into the quartz ridge by ECRL is now a non-issue.

He further said MRL was led to believe that its meetings and engagements with the various state agencies were fruitful and had, in the company's opinion, presented a better option to establish the most efficient national rail system by integrating both ECRL and KTMB while minimizing any environmental and social impacts towards the people.

"As such, MRL is shocked that the Executive Council (EXCO) of Selangor has brushed aside convincing details that MRL have furnished be it to the various state agencies or the Selangor Economic Action Council (MTES) on the clear advantages of the ECRL original alignment," it said.

To avoid further delays to the project, MRL called on the Selangor EXCO to reconsider its decision in view of the advantages to complete the ECRL via the northern alignment and in view of the solutions and mitigation plans that have been put in place to address all concerns raised.

"MRL would like to reiterate that the construction of the ECRL is of National interest and not for the benefit of any state in particular. It is envisioned as a game changer and catalyst for socio-economic growth that narrows the economic inequality between the West Coast and East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia," Zuki added.

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