In his keynote address, Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Minister of MITI called out the East Coast Rail Link as a game-changer for Malaysia, linking Malaysia more closely to the Pan-Asia railway network and enhancing connectivity with ASEAN and the EURASIA regions.
Valued at almost RM75 billion, the ECRL – will link states Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor –will also poised to become a cornerstone for socio economic growth while it is expected to increase Malaysia’s GDP by 3.78% by 2047 the minister added.
He highlighted that, as of February 2024, the project has reached an impressive completion rate of 62.4%, with the alignment in each state progressing steadily towards the finish line. This current completion rate underscores the ECRL-EAP’s crucial role in driving economic parity across Malaysia, in line with the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 agenda, especially Mission 4, which focuses on safeguarding economic complexity and security, to further promote inclusivity and shared prosperity.
Echoing the sentiment, Chairman of MIDA, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Sulaiman Mahbob, said it is essential to focus on restructuring the economy towards innovation and high-value, knowledge-based activities. The ECRL project is a cornerstone of this vision, promising to generate business and employment opportunities, particularly in industrial parks, logistics hubs, and transit-oriented developments.
MRL the project lead for ECRL’s CEO Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak added “We anticipate the ECRL to accelerate the shift of cargo movements from road to rail to help ease congestion and environment-related concerns such as lower carbon footprints when it operates in less than three years’ time. Furthermore, the ECRL will be an electrified rail network that will be operated with renewable energy, thus, providing green logistics for Peninsular Malaysia and in particular the East Coast states.”
He further added “The ECRL–EAP aims to maximise the potential of the 20 ECRL stations that will be featured along the ECRL corridor, consisting of 10-passenger only stations and another 10 stations combining for passenger & freight. This corresponds with the business model projection of the ECRL, wherein it anticipates that 70 percent of its revenue will primarily come from the freight sector, with the remaining 30 percent stemming from passenger services.”
During the first event highlighting the progress of the project, the official handover of the ECRL Integrated Land Use Master Plan (PeGTaECRL) from Director General PLANMalaysia to the CEO of MIDA was conducted. This momentous occasion signifies a new chapter in Malaysia’s strategic development, with the PeGTaECRL, serving as a blueprint for development along the ECRL routes. Focused on the 20 strategically identified stations, the plan aims to attract investments and foster harmony between the country’s East and West Coast regions.
By aligning land use planning with transportation infrastructure, the PeGTaECRL aims to optimise development opportunities, enhance connectivity, and promote balanced progress across the country’s east and west coasts.
