KUANTAN: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project is projected to generate RM80 to RM90 billion in cumulative value-added contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2047.
Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah said the contribution would be driven by the development of 21 Economic Accelerator Projects (EAPs), which are expected to serve as the main drivers of economic returns along the ECRL corridor.
"Several ECRL stations have been identified as new logistic hubs. For instance, in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, we have 213 acres (86.2 hectares), Kemaman, Terengganu, 68 acres (27.5 hectares) and Temerloh, Pahang, 50 acres (20.2 hectares). These three districts are designated for improvement into logistic hubs.
"The ECRL is not merely a transportation infrastructure, but a catalyst for sustainable economy and investment development, as well as creating quality job opportunities,” he told Bernama recently.
Mohd Shahar said the government is committed to ensuring that the ECRL project not only enhances the country’s transportation network but also serves as a catalyst for local economic development, in line with the MADANI Economy framework.
He noted that the first phase of the Perodua logistics hub in Paya Besar, Kuantan, is expected to be completed by 2029, as part of efforts to strengthen local industries and create employment opportunities along the ECRL corridor.
Mohd Shahar, who is also the Paya Besar Member of Parliament, said the ECRL should be viewed as a complementary infrastructure that enhances Malaysia overall logistics ecosystem rather than a replacement for existing international shipping routes.
"The ECRL project also aims to reduce the gap between the East Coast and West Coast by empowering the logistics network,” he said.
According to Mohd Shahar, the initiatives being implemented are outlined under the 13th Malaysia Plan, which uses the Malaysia Development Composite Index and MyRMK system to ensure allocations and projects are channelled more accurately and effectively to areas in need.
The RM50.27 billion national infrastructure project is scheduled for completion in December 2026 and expected to begin operations in January 2027.
The 665-kilometre ECRL project has allocated 11 six-car electric multiple unit (EMU) train sets for passenger services and 12 electric locomotives (E-Loco) for cargo purposes. - Bernama
