‘ECRL NEEDS TO SPUR INDUSTRIAL GROWTH’
No reason for project to go on if it doesn’t bring new industries to east coast, says Azmin
THE East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project needs to bring new industries to the east coast of the peninsula, which would spur real industrial sector development in the region, said Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.
He said without new industries and growth, and no cargo to be transported via ECRL, then there was no reason to proceed with the project.
“Among new conditions we laid down was to bring new industries
to the east coast. ECRL is important if there is industrial growth that can generate economic growth and transfer of industrial cargo to Port Klang.”
He said this after delivering a keynote address titled “People’s Hope Development: A New Malaysia Mechanism or Just a Rebranding?” at the Melaka Berwibawa Seminar in Bandar Hilir here yesterday.
The two-day seminar, which started on Monday, was launched by Chief Minister Adly Zahari yesterday. Present was Deputy Primary Industries Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar.
It was reported that the ECRL project would be revived and the construction costs for Phases 1 and 2 had been reduced to RM44 billion from RM65.5 billion.
Azmin said the project’s RM21.5 billion savings was not due to the scaling down of its scope and specifications, as alleged by several parties, and stressed that they remain unchanged.
“It is still double track and the alignment and distance is about the same. What happened is that we did not allow them to pass through Gombak as there is a dam there and we do not want any problems (to occur). This decision was made when I was Selangor menteri besar.
“We also have the Klang Gates Quartz Ridge, which was registered with Unesco as the world’s longest quartz ridge, and we do not want them to drill through it and construct a RM10 billion tunnel. We saved almost RM10 billion here.
“We are against the abuse of power, corruption and leakages, and we will continue with these practices and principles, including for the Bandar Malaysia project, which will be governed by a new development concept.”