Proposal to link Kota Bharu to Pasir Mas by ECRL still being studied, says Kelantan deputy MB

• Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan said the proposal is seen as relevant, as the Malaysian and Thai governments have agreed to revive the existing railway line between Pasir Mas and Sungai Golok under Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB), to reconnect the railway network between the two countries.

KOTA BHARU (July 21): The proposal to extend East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas, is still being studied by Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) and the Ministry of Transport.

Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan said the proposal is seen as relevant, as the Malaysian and Thai governments have agreed to revive the existing railway line between Pasir Mas and Sungai Golok under Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB), to reconnect the railway network between the two countries.

He said the Kelantan government is currently proposing that the ECRL line be extended to Rantau Panjang in Pasir Mas, from Kota Bharu, and not to the original line in Tumpat.

“However, it is still under study by MRL and the Ministry of Transport to extend the ECRL line from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas,” he said.

Mohamed Fadzli said this when replying to a supplementary question by Mohd Adanan Hassan (PAS-Kelaboran) during the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly sitting at the Kota Darulnaim Complex on Monday, regarding the state government’s efforts to submit a proposal to implement the ECRL to the original alignment, which is Tumpat.

Earlier, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said his ministry was examining a proposal to extend the ECRL route from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas in Kelantan, to strengthen the connection network with Thailand.

In a similar development, Mohamed Fadzli said the state government had also drawn up a strategic plan to ensure that the development around the ECRL project alignment could be fully utilised, especially in the manufacturing sector, which has the potential to boost the economy in the state.

“Among the main plans currently being implemented is the development based on cargo oriented development (COD) at Pasir Puteh Station, which is seen to be able to attract not only private and foreign investments, but will also generate downstream economic chains, such as transportation services, packaging, and raw material supply.

“In addition, the development based on transit oriented development (TOD) at Tunjong Station, Kota Bharu, is seen to be able to revive Tunjong as a new township, and create a balanced economic ecosystem, [encompassing] people’s mobility, job opportunities, and quality of life,” he said.

The ECRL project is expected to be fully completed by the end of 2026, and train services for the Kota Bharu to Gombak, Selangor route will be operational by January 2027, while the second line from Gombak to Port Klang is expected to be completed a year later.

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