Terengganu not left out of ECRL route, says Daim

KUALA TERENGGANU: Six East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) stations will be built in Terengganu, hence proving that the state is not being bypassed in the implementation of the project as alleged by some quarters, says Tun Daim Zainuddin (pic).

The Council of Eminent Persons chairman said the people of Terengganu should not be upset or confused with the decision on a new alignment for the ECRL despite the reduction in the project cost by RM21.5bil to RM44bil from RM65.5bil previously.

“The plan is that there will be six stations in Terengganu. There will be passenger, cargo and also passenger-cum-cargo stations but I can’t remember the breakdown figures.

“The ECRL will pass through Terengganu (to Mentakab),” said Daim, who was here for the Darul Iman Talk titled “Bumiputra Econo­my: National Agenda”, yesterday.

Based on the proposed new ECRL alignment, the six stations in Terengganu will be Chukai, Kema­sik, Dungun, Pengkalan Bera­n­gan, Kuala Terengganu and Kam­pung Raja.

The project will resume following the signing of a supplementary agreement (SA) between Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) and China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC).

Besides reduced cost, the new alignment from Kota Baru-Mentak­ab-Jelebu-Kuala Kelawang-Bangi/Kajang-Putrajaya and on to Port Klang will also see a reduced distance to 648km from the original 688km.

Daim said the SA between MRL and CCCC would see increased involvement of local contractors to 40% from 30%.

He said the project would also spur the growth of ancillary industries like homestay and retail businesses when completed.

“We will see a lot of involvement of big and small businesses. This opportunity will be a good test for entrepreneurs in Terengganu and elsewhere in the East Coast that they are capable of meeting the demand and facing competition,” he added. — Bernama