Construction of Gemas Railway Museum to be done in three phases

According to Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, KTMB has agreed to manage the museum (in Gemas, Negri Sembilan) and provide exhibition material for display in the museum. Photo: National Archives/Arkib Negara Malaysia

The construction of the Gemas Railway Museum is currently being done in stages by the Tampin District Council (MDT) based on a mutual agreement between the Railway Asset Corporation (RAC) and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB).

Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said the Gemas Small District Office received an allocation of RM490,000 from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) last year to turn the old Gemas railway station into a museum.

"The upgrading work (was) completed in November 2021. The construction of the Gemas railway museum will be implemented in three phases with the first phase involving the repair of old buildings and train carriages at a cost of RM1.06mil,” he said recently at a State Legislative Assembly sitting.

As for the second phase of the project which would be implemented in 2022 and 2023, he added application for an allocation of RM1mil to build an additional museum building, repair a weighbridge as well as an old locomotive round table and rail tracks, had been submitted to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and MOTAC.

Aminuddin said apart from that, an allocation of RM2mil was needed for the upgrading of the waterfront landscape and car park in the third phase of the project which was expected to start from next year until 2024.

According to him, RAC had also agreed for MDT to take over the operation of the old station, adding that both parties would sign an agreement on the matter soon.

"Besides that, KTMB has agreed to manage the museum and provide materials for display in the museum in accordance with the approval from its top management,” he said. - Bernama