KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 2): The Selangor government has no objection to the proposed East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) passing through the State’s northern region, according to Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Amirudin said on Thursday (Dec 2) that the State government also has no intention to delay the construction of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which is expected to have a positive impact on the people of the East Coast States and the Klang Valley.
He emphasised that the decision by Selangor was made after taking into account discussions and arriving at a consensus with stakeholders involved in the ECRL project which include the Ministry of Transport (MOT), Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRLSB), local authorities as well as Federal and State government agencies.
At the ECRL document handover ceremony for Section C (Northern Alignment), Amirudin said Selangor arrived at the decision in a bid to ensure the well-being of the people and sustainable economic development, not only specifically for Selangor but Malaysia in general.
“Therefore, after careful consideration of the reports involving 37 engagement sessions on the ECRL project with the Selangor government’s departments and agencies, the Selangor state executive council (MMKN) had in a meeting on Nov 17, 2021 and again on Nov 24,2021, agreed to accept the proposed ECRL Northern Alignment and subsequently approved the ECRL Section C1 from Mentakab to Gombak and Section C2 comprising Gombak-Serendah-Port Klang,” he said in his speech.
He added that the Selangor State government also supports the construction of five ECRL stations, namely ITT Gombak, Serendah Baru, Jalan Kastam, Puncak Alam and Kapar.
"The ITT Gombak, Serendah Baru and Jalan Kastam [ECRL stations will be] implemented at an early stage, while two ECRL stations, namely Puncak Alam and Kapar, have been designated as future stations and will be built when needed,” he said.
Amirudin added that the Selangor State government remains positive in accommodating the Federal government's initiative for selecting the Northern Alignment, which will among others boost the Serendah area as an important location for transhipment/interchange cargo hub in the State.
This is because Selangor understands the rationale of the Federal government’s budget, whereby the ECRL project that traverses the Northern Alignment will incorporate the Serendah Bypass into the ECRL rail line and help solve the freight congestion faced by KTMB when travelling through Kuala Lumpur’s city centre, said the MB.
“The infrastructure budget for the ECRL Northern Alignment has a two-pronged approach — the implementation of two rail projects, namely the ECRL and the Serendah Bypass, for the price of one.
“The Selangor government also supports the Northern Alignment based on the main component of the ECRL project which completes the landbridge for freight transportation from Kuantan Port to Port Klang which is more effective with rail extension to the terminals at Northport and Westports respectively.
“At the same time, the Northern Alignment will also be able to connect passengers from the East Coast States to ITT Gombak in Selangor, which is a gateway to the Federal capital as well as has LRT services that can link many destinations in the Klang Valley,” he said.
Selangor government hopes Southern Alignment also implemented
Amirudin said while this was not a condition for the State's support of the ECRL, Selangor would be grateful if the Federal government would also consider implementing the Southern Alignment in the rail project as part of its future plans.
The Southern Alignment starts at Mentakab in Pahang before going past Kuala Klawang and Nilai in Negeri Sembilan, and Putrajay, before reconnecting to Selangor at Jenjarom and Westports in Port Klang.
In addition, the State also hopes that the overall land public transport system plans by the Federal government, especially the MOT, will take into account rail connectivity in the Klang Valley and Selangor, by considering having LRT services between Putra Heights and Selangor Business Capital (SBC) in Cyberjaya which is being actively planned by the state government via the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS).
Moreover, the implementation of the Northern Alignment will also hopefully be monitored by a joint committee comprising members from the Federal and State governments.
Apart from that, the State government also looks forward to the formation of a joint development committee for Pulau Carey, in order to realise its desire to make Pulau Carey a new logistics hub as soon as possible.
“In short, the Selangor government has embarked on the right option with regards to the implementation of the Northern Alignment, as it will provide greater achievements for the national rail network in the long term.
“Therefore, to spur development and build an efficient transportation system in Selangor, we will be truly appreciative for the Federal government to review the State’s wishlist and implement these proposals in the near future,” he said.