MRL: ECRL construction work has stopped

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL), the project owner of the RM81bil East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), says its contractors were working as of Sunday to secure their sites in compliance with its suspension order.

The company was refuting news reports suggesting that construction work was ongoing despite the government’s order on July 3 to halt all engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) work at the 688km railway poject.

The suspension order was issued to the ECRL project’s EPCC contractor, China Communications Construction Co Ltd (CCCC) and China Communications Construction Co (M) Sdn Bhd (CCCCM), on the same day.

“Once the site is properly secured, no other works shall proceed until further notice from MRL,” MRL said in a statement yesterday.

“CCCC or its sub-contractors’ wor- kers will be present on site to carry out these works until MRL is satisfied that all ECRL construction sites have been duly secured,” it said.

The company said security personnel would be posted to guard the premises and regular checks on the condition of the sites would be conducted during the suspension period to prevent any damages or theft on the existing works.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said previously that the ECRL project would be completed only if the government could lower the project’s cost and achieve more favourable terms through renegotiation.

The ECRL, which spans Port Klang to Gombak and onwards to Kuantan and Pengkalan Kubor, has come under heavy criticism for its expensive price tag.

Detractors have also labelled the ECRL as the world’s costliest rail project.