ECRL Map

Resumed ECRL project to spur more development, industrialisation

Resumed ECRL project to spur more development, industrialisation, says Loke



The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project will resume, after nine months of negotiations, with alignments and stations restructured to make it more viable. -- Bernama photo

The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project will resume, after nine months of negotiations, with alignments and stations restructured to make it more viable.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the resumption would have a positive impact on the well-being of the people in terms of social economic development.

“Once completed in 2026, we will see more development and industrialisation in the east coast,” he said after THE relaunching of works on the tunnel here today.

“This section from Dungun to Mentakab is the least impacted by the realignment deal.”

The contractors will prioritise works on the tunnels and viaducts along the proposed alignment from Dungun to Mentakab in Pahang over the next one month to propel the construction of the re-negotiated RM44 billion rail network.

The supplementary agreement inked between Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) and China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC) on April 12 in Beijing paved the way for the resumption of the ECRL project to proceed at a lower cost, compared with the price tag of RM65.5 billion.

The focus of the renegotiated project will be on the design and physical works of the 14.13km tunnels in 23 locations, as well as preparatory works for 39.03km of viaducts in 65 locations situated within the 223km stretch from Dungun to Mentakab where no rail alignment changes were made under the improved ECRL project.

Earthworks at several ECRL tunnel sites, including the 871m Dungun Tunnel, 1.1km Paka Tunnel, and 2.8km Kuantan Tunnel, and site clearing and pile testing on multiple sites for viaducts have commenced.

Loke said, despite the realignment involving diversions from the original design, the government would keep the option open for future development when the need arose.

Asked whether the project would encourage existing investors in the more developed states to shift or expand their operations to the east coast states, Loke said it could entice existing firms to expand, but more importantly there would be new investments.

“The joint-venture with CCCC ensures new investments.

“We are not building the railway at the expense of other states. We may see expansion, but not relocation.”

The improved ECRL project involves a distance of 640km that will entail rail alignment changes between Kota Baru in Kelantan and Dungun, Terengganu, with the introduction of a new southern alignment from Mentakab in Pahang to Port Klang in Selangor that runs through Negri Sembilan and Putrajaya.

The entire project will see the construction of 30 to 40 tunnels along its alignment from Kota Baru to Port Klang, with the longest tunnel measuring about 7km to be built in the Jelebu-Semenyih area.

The project will also witness the construction of multiple viaducts with a total length of approximately 100km.

Loke said Environmental Impact Assessment reports had been submitted where land clearing had started, and more would be submitted as the project progressed.

“This is a national project. It is apolitical.

“It involves states not won by the present government.

“It is for the country and the people,” he said, adding that it was well-positioned as a national infrastructure project as it linked cities and towns, upgraded public transport in rural areas along its entire 640km rail network that would traverse five states and Putrajaya.

~New Straits Times~

东铁周四正式复工 2026年秒竣工启用

东铁周四正式复工 2026年秒竣工启用



陆兆福（左5）主持东海岸铁道计划复工。左起阿末苏海米、尤索夫依斯迈、凯鲁阿迪、阿米努丁、阿末山苏里、诺若拉扎里、阿都拉曼尤诺斯及达维斯。 东海岸铁道计划（ECRL）复工，预料2026年12月启用。

纷纷扰扰的东海岸铁道计划周四正式复工，交通部长陆兆福披露，若工程一切顺利，东海岸铁道将于2026年竣工，并开始投入运作。

他说，经过与中国交通建设股份有限公司（CCCC，简称“中国交建”）的重新谈判后，这项计划从原本的665亿令吉削减至440亿令吉，减少了215亿令吉或33%。

陆兆福是于周四登嘉楼龙运，主持东海岸铁道计划复工仪式上，这么表示。

他也表示，这项计划的贷款也已经敲定，预料会在近期签署附加合约。

“我被告知马来西亚铁道衔接公司（MRL）与中国进出口银行（China EXIM Bank），将针对东海岸铁道计划的贷款已经敲定。因此，有关东海岸铁道计划贷款附加合约预料会在近期签署。”

他说，根据这项附加合约，中国进出口银行将提供85%的贷款，但由于成本价格削减，因此我国需承担的利息并不高。

“这也意味着政府所承担，由中国进出口银行所提供的贷款利息也减少了。”

陆兆福也提及，东海岸铁道计划全长640公里，主要是借以提升东海岸的公共交通设施。

“一旦东海岸铁道计划完成后，将为国人提供更便捷的交通。举例来说，民众若要从丹州的哥打峇鲁到布城，只需要乘搭4小时每小时160公里的列车，就能够抵达。”

他表示，重新规划的东铁计划将分为3段工程，分别是吉兰丹州哥打峇鲁到龙运的A段，登嘉楼州龙运到文德甲的B段，以及彭亨州文德甲到巴生港口的C段。

“在这3段工程当中，223公里的B段工程的路线没有更改，这个工程占了整个东铁计划的34.8％，而A段工程的路线会有少许更改，C段工程的路线则作出最大 的更改，2段工程全长417公里。”

“东海岸铁道计划共计20个站，其中14个站是让乘客能够上下站，另外5个站是供乘客和货柜，至于另一个站只是用作货柜使用。”

他说，整个东海岸铁道计划，登嘉楼州共计6个站，包括甘榜拉惹（Kampung Raja）、瓜拉登嘉楼、柏拉岸（Pengkalan Berangan）、龙运（Dungun）、甘马仕（Kemasik）及朱盖（Chukai），以及2个供乘客和货柜的站。

“在登州，也需要建造3个地下隧道，这包括龙运隧道、北加隧道（Terowong Paka）及关丹隧道。”

出席这场复工仪式的也包括登嘉楼州务大臣阿末山苏里、森美兰州务大臣拿督斯里阿米努丁、中国驻马大使白天、交通部秘书长拿督莫哈末凯鲁阿迪、马来西亚铁道衔接公司首席执行员那毒死达维斯、董事阿末苏海米及拿督尤索夫依斯迈、中国交建副总裁孙子宇、彭亨州务大臣代表拿督斯里诺若拉扎里、吉兰丹州务大臣代表阿都拉曼尤诺斯等。

陆兆福也表示，东海岸铁道计划启用后，将刺激铁道周边的旅游业，尤其是惠及民宿、酒店及当地的旅游活动业者。

“虽然重启后的东海岸铁道计划将减少站点，但跨越多个州属，因此势必带动东海岸经济走廊的成长，吸引更多外资进驻投资，进而创造更多的就业机会。”

“届时，像是珍拉丁（Cherating）、龙运（Dungun）、瓜拉登嘉楼、督巴里（Tok Bali）及哥打峇鲁。”

陆兆福也宣布，东海岸铁路工业技能培训计划（PLKI-ECRL）将复办，届时将会有约5000名在地学员参与培训。

“在此之前，只有3600名学员参与这项培训计划。”

白天：东铁将改变东海岸经济

中国驻马大使白天认为，东海岸铁路计划（ECRL）项目将改变登嘉楼、吉兰丹和森州等东海岸一带的交通运输与经济发展，并将其称为贸易创造。

“一旦东海岸铁路建竣，将能加强州与州，以及海外市场之间的连接，创造更多的贸易往来。例如，东海岸农民种植1公顷的榴槤，如猫山王。我会想，要如何出售。”

“不过，这些榴槤最终可能会因为运输问题和成本，而被浪费，但如果有铁路，就会不一样。”

因此，他相信，东海岸铁路将能为东海岸社区带来更多的经济活动，包括旅游。

“届时不只会有来自西马的游客，其他国家，包括中国游客都会前来旅游。因此，我相信，东海岸铁路的建成可以让大马中国游客翻倍增长。”

~光华日报~

ECRL is up and running again

ECRL is up and running again

It is confirmed – Malaysia has managed to bring down the construction cost of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project by RM21.5bil, which is almost a third of the original cost.

The new price is set at RM44bil now, down 32.8% from the previous RM66bil.

Tun Daim Zainuddin, who led the negotiations with China, said the latest cost estimate was far more manageable for the government.

“It will also require a smaller loan from Exim Bank, which will further reduce the interest to be paid,” he told Malaysian journalists at the Malaysian Embassy here yesterday.

Earlier yesterday, Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd and China Communications Construction Company Ltd signed a supplementary agreement to pave the way for the resumption of the suspended project.

The agreement also saw slight changes to the route from Kota Baru in Kelantan to Port Klang in Selangor, with the length cut by 40km to 648km.

“It will still be double-tracking,” said Daim, who is the Special Envoy of the Prime Minister.

The realigned route will see the rail track diverted to Negri Sembilan from Mentakab in Pahang, bypassing Bentong in Pahang and Gombak in Selangor as planned earlier.

“It will start in Kota Baru, then to Mentakab, Jelebu and Kuala Klawang in Negri Sembilan, continue on to Bangi, Kajang, Putrajaya and end in Port Klang,” he said, without elaborating on the changes.

He said construction would commerce as soon as possible with the new date of completion reset to 2026, a two-year delay from the project planned originally.

Daim, who is also chairman of the Council of Eminent Persons, added that it had been agreed that 40% of the sub-contractors for the project would be Malaysians.

Negotiations on the loan and interest rate were still ongoing, he said.

“Now that the cost is lower, the loan will also be lower,” he said.

Daim declined to reveal more details, saying that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will address a press conference on the ECRL on Monday.

China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said his government was glad to see the issue being settled through friendly negotiation.

He said China and Malaysia were good neighbours and partners, which viewed each other’s friendship with importance.

Lu Kang said China hoped to see the project recommence soon.

In Putrajaya, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed the latest details involving the ECRL.

“The signing was achieved after months of negotiations between the companies involved as well as the governments of Malaysia and China.

“This reduction (in cost) will surely benefit Malaysia and lighten the burden of the country’s financial position,” it said in a statement yesterday.

The PMO said the supplementary agreement covered the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning aspects of the ECRL.

It confirmed that Dr Mahathir would address the media at 11am on Monday.

The original 688km ECRL proposal comprised Phase 1, stretching from the Klang Valley to Kuantan.

Phase 2 is from Kuantan to Kuala Terengganu and Phase 3 connecting Kuala Terengganu to Kota Baru and Tumpat.

The Pakatan Harapan government suspended the ECRL project after winning the general election last year.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Jomo: No need for ECRL, just take a flight

Jomo: No need for ECRL, just take a flight

The rationale given that the East Coast Railaway Link (ECRL) would speed up the connection between the West Coast and East Coast is merely a ruse by those interested in enriching themselves with such “fake projects”, says economist Professor Jomo Kwame Sundram.

“I understand the government needs space to solve and minimise the losses (from the cancellation of ECRL).

"There will definitely be losses from the cancellation of ECRL. The question is how do we minimise that loss?

“Those who are for it say that it is to develop the East Coast. Actually no. This project does not develop East Coast.

"There are other problems in the East Coast, such as the water problems in Kelantan, lack of sanitation and the issue of flooding, which must be given more attention,” said Jomo.

He also said the excuse that ECRL, once built, would speed up the connection between the West Coast and East Coast did not hold water.

“There are those who say we are ignoring the East Coast. This is a mere ruse by those who want to save such fake projects.

"It is not as if there is no rail line to the East Coast.

"It may be slower but what is it we want to speed up for the East Coast. Apparently, they want to use high-speed trains.

"Who is it that is in such a hurry to come from there? If you are in a hurry, why don’t you just take a flight?” asked Jomo.

He was speaking to the media after a dialogue at the Malaysian Press Institute.

Jomo has been at the forefront in asking for the ECRL be scrapped, saying that it is a burden to a country already deep in debt due to mismanagement by the previous government.

He was part of the Council of Eminent Persons, an advisory council set up by the Pakatan Harapan government in its early days to discuss the state of the nation inherited from the previous Barisan government.

~Courtesy of The Star~

‘Wait for ECRL announcement’

‘Wait for ECRL announcement’

The ball is now in Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s (pic) court to state Malaysia’s official stance on the future of the controversial East Coast Rail Link (ECRL).

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has called for patience in the matter, and said the government’s decision on the project would be announced by Lim.

“Has Lim Guan Eng made a astatement on this? No? So we wait for him lah. Be patient,” said Dr Mahathir to reporters when asked to clear the confusion on the status of ECRL.

Dr Mahathir acknowledged that there had been contradictory statements coming from members of his Cabinet, but he said mistakes are to be expected from a new government.

“The number of mistakes we make are little, but people notice it more.

“Just wait for Guan Eng to make the announcement, be patient lah,” Dr Mahathir said at a press conference after a meeting with top executives of statutory bodies here.

On a letter bearing Lim’s signature being widely circulated – indicating the cancellation of the ECRL – Dr Mahathir refuted its authenticity.

“It has a government letterhead? Anyone could draft a letter and cut out a government letterhead to make it look real. That is not official,” he said.

On Sunday, Lim said the official announcement on ECRL would be made in a written statement and issued this week.

It has been reported that the government is looking for a new contractor after terminating the contract awarded to China Communi­cations Construction Company Ltd to build the RM81bil mega rail project.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir said Malaysia will stick to its decision on banning Israeli athletes, despite the stripping of Malaysia’s right to host the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships.

“We stand by our principles that Israel is a criminal nation.

“It has been breaking international laws without people saying anything about it.

“We have a right to voice our own feelings and to have our own policies,” he said.

When asked if the stripping of the rights to host the event would affect Malaysia’s future in hosting other games, Dr Mahathir was unperturbed.

“They want to cancel it, then cancel it. I do not understand why the world must follow Israel. The world has the power, but they choose to obey Israel. We do not obey.

“If we cannot organise this sporting event, we can organise other ones,” said Dr Mahathir.

On Pakatan Harapan’s defeat in the Cameron Highlands by-election, Dr Mahathir said he accepted it as the will of the people, and added that the government must address the cost of living issue affecting the rural folk.

“We must find ways to reduce cost of living as well as help them earn better income,” he said.

~News courtesy of The Star~

‘ECRL project will take environs into consideration’

‘ECRL project will take environs into consideration’

There will be adequate environmental protection in the construction of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) rail line, said Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL).

Its chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said the ECRL project team has been working closely with the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry (NRE) for over a year to improve the project alignment and design to minimise its impact on the environment and wildlife.

“It is important for the development of ECRL to be implemented with the environment in mind.

“We firmly believe that development and the environment must go hand-in-hand.

“A Wildlife Management Plan has also been formulated through MRL’s collaboration with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan),” he said in a statement yesterday.

Darwis said a special steering committee, chaired by the NRE’s deputy secretary-general, has also been set up to ensure that all matters related to natural resources and environment regarding the project will be addressed.

The ECRL project, said Darwis, is said to be among the “most challenging engineering and construction” projects in Malaysia as the 688km rail line is not on a flat terrain but cuts across the hilly terrain of the Titiwangsa Range and dense forest.

“As the ECRL traverses through various forests and wildlife habitats, it is crucial to explore the means to ensure the development incurs minimal damage.

“We are pleased to say that the scrutiny in protecting the environment has resulted in a more environmentally-friendly design and measures to ensure the welfare of the wildlife,” said Darwis.

The MRL, together with main contractor China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC), will be implementing various environmentally-friendly initiatives, he added.

The ECRL project team and the NRE have also made design improvements to reduce the loss of forests.

The original design, said Darwis, could have involved the loss of over 2,000ha of forest reserves but modifications to the alignment and provisions of 45 tunnels with a total length of about 49km have managed to reduce the loss of forests by 90%.

Wildlife underpasses will also be built at 29 strategic locations so that wildlife can move freely despite the railway line passing through.

~News courtesy of The Star~

预算案通过计划 东海岸铁路文冬设站

廖中莱：预算案通过计划 东海岸铁路文冬设站

交通部长拿督斯里廖中莱指出，东海岸铁路（ECRL）应是沿着原定计划的路线，在文冬县设站，计划是从雪州鹅唛综合交通总站经过彭亨文冬再通往文德甲以及东海岸。

他也是文冬国会议员，他是于今午到选区内的文冬美律谷土展区拜访问贫穷的垦殖民后向记者这么指出。

他说，中央政府很早以前都已经计划兴建有关铁路，最初是没有文冬站，过后特别向首相争取后，就拟定整个计划，而这计划也在最近的财政预算案通过。

“州政府日前回答州议员的询问时，而没有文冬站，这是州政府没有更新最新的计划，这是较早的计划，所以在文冬设立文冬站是铁定的。”

访问贫穷垦殖民

他说，今日访问6个各族贫穷病患者家庭是要了解他们的需要，并会全力给予他们支持和协助，并会通过福利团体或政府部门给予他们协助。

部长也分发米粮以及奶粉给予所需要协助的家庭。

陪同部长拜访贫穷病患者有马华文冬区会主席拿督英迪拉何启文上议员、马华美律谷支会主席叶成林等人。

政府耗资550亿令吉打造全长600公里的东海岸铁路，路线途径巴生港口、鹅唛综合交通总站、文冬、文德甲、关丹、甘马挽、格底、瓜拉登嘉楼、哥打峇鲁，终点站是道北。

~以上新闻转自中国报~