Pahang branches of PKMM, DPMM laud ECRL project’s continuation

KUALA LUMPUR: The new government’s decision to proceed with the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) brings glad tidings to the East Coast residents as well as the Pahang branches of the Malay Contractors Association of Malaysia (PKMM) and the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM).

Pahang PKMM President Abd Ghafar Lambak said it was appropriate for the government to review the construction cost of the 688km railway, which would connect Port Klang, Selangor, with Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan, in order not to burden the people and the nation.

“The Pahang PKMM welcomes the government’s move to resume the project, as the East Coast residents have certainly been hoping for transport facilities similar to those in the West Coast,” he said when asked to comment on the decision.

“For the contractors, this will give their business an edge as it will be more cost-effective to transport building materials from the Klang Valley,” he added.

At the same time, Abd Ghafar expressed hope that the government would open up more opportunities for Bumiputera contractors to implement the

The Pahang PKMM welcomes the government’s move to resume the project, as the East Coast residents have certainly been hoping for transport facilities similar to those in the West Coast. Abd Ghafar Lambak, Pahang PKMM President

project, particularly earthworks such as area clearing, grass planting, drainage works and roadworks.

The Pahang branch of PKMM, he noted, comprised 1,611 contractors but to-date, none of them had been contacted for their credentials for involvement in such projects despite many of them having experience in the matters.

Some 30 per cent of civil works packages for the ECRL project are earmarked for local firms while some 70 per cent of staff will be sourced from Malaysia.

The tender process for Pahang was completed in April and the project’s main contractor, China Communications Construction Company Ltd, will announce the awards for the state’s subcontractors soon.

Tenders for ECRL construction works in the other states will also be opened soon.

Last week, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng told an online news portal that the government, having already paid RM20 billion of the project’s cost, would proceed with it subject to a re-negotiation of the total cost.

According to previous estimates, the China-backed ECRL could be built for less than RM40 billion but the figure had been inflated to between RM60 billion and RM70 billion.

Meanwhile, Pahang state’s DPMM president Yusri Yusof echoed Abd Ghafar’s view that the continuation of the ECRL project re-opened economic opportunities for the people of the East Coast.

“The ECRL route will also connect Port Klang with the Kuantan Port and thus facilitate local entrepreneurs to develop their business further,” said.

Like Abd Ghafar, he expressed hope that the Pakatan Harapan government would not sideline local entrepreneurs in the construction work for the project, which is targeted to be completed in June 2024. — Bernama