‘REROUTED LINE TO BENEFIT NEGRI FOLK’

Minister says this is possible if project is resumed after talks with Chinese govt

THE alignment of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) will be rerouted to benefit Negri Sembilan if it is resumed after negotiations with the Chinese government at the end of this month.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, who confirmed the matter, said a decision was expected to be made during Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir

Mohamad’s visit to China to discuss, among others, lowering the cost of construction for the project.

“As transport minister, I can say what Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng revealed yesterday (Friday) on the ECRL project is correct as it is being negotiated. There will be a decision in a few weeks as Dr Mahathir will be going to China at the end of this month. If it is successful, it is confirmed Negri Sembilan will benefit as we (the government) want to focus on development here,” he told a ceramah session in Rantau here on Saturday.

On Friday, Lim indicated the project would go on if its construction cost was reduced to RM35 billion from the original RM66 billion.

He hinted that the railway alignment would be rerouted to benefit Negri Sembilan.

The 688km line will connect Port Klang, Selangor, with Pengkalan Kubor, Kelantan

The project, which was approved by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in October 2016, initially cost RM55 billion.

The cost ballooned to RM130 billion after taking into account the interest incurred from the project’s loan financing. In February, Council of Eminent Persons chairman Tun Daim Zainuddin said a negotiation team from the Chinese government was expected to visit Malaysia to discuss on lowering the project’s cost.

It was reported that the project could be carried out at a cost of RM35 billion.