Infrastructure projects are vital for the 12th Malaysian Plan to be successful, this was detailed by the Prime Minister when he tabled the comprehensive 5 year action plan for the country's next phase. Among them were to look into vital highway links that were either in execution or planning stage. Selangor being the main industrial activity centre for Malaysia, the West Coast Expressway project involving seven lines is now expected to be completed in 2024 after temporary delay due to MCO. Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri said the infrastructure was one of the main projects contained in the second focus of the 12MP, Memperkukuh Pemangkin Pertumbuhan or loosely translated "Strengthening the Catalyst for Growth" In his address, he highlighted the need for quality and reliable basic infrastructure and utilities such as roads, rail, water supply and electricity which are crucial to stimulate economic growth, bridge the development gap between regions and further improve the well -being of the people. Apart from existing systems, the integration of rail and road network that connects airports and ports with industrial, urban and rural areas will also be enhanced under the 12MP. WCE is just one spoke of the wheel, the Klang Valley Double Track Phase One which connects Rawang to Salak Selatan is expected to be completed next year and the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project by 2026, these will them form a multi-network system which is set to connect industries and businesses, thus enhancing the economy of the states. The 233 -kilometer WCE began construction in 2014 at a total cost of RM5.044 billion of that amount, RM3.122 billion is for construction cost with packages in Selangor while another RM1.922 billion involves construction packages in Perak. For Selangor, it covers, 11 -kilometer (km) Banting to South Klang Valley Expressway route, SKVE to Shah Alam Expressway (7.2km) and SAE to the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE)/Federal Highway 2 ( FHR2) as far as 10.1 km. As for the next package it involves the NKVE/FHR2 route to the New North Klang Strait Bypass (NNKSB) along 4.5km, NNKSB to Kapar (9.7km), Kapar to Assam Jawa (21.8km) and Assam Jawa to Tanjong Karang (29.5km).
