Game changer: Dr Wee with Ouyang, Kong Qi, Deng Bo, Isham and Darwis during the signing ceremony between Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd and China Communications Construction Company Ltd. — Photo from Dr Wee’s Facebook
PETALING JAYA: The construction of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is expected to boost the growth of the construction and building materials sector, as well as support the recruitment of local manpower, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
“This includes professionals, skilled workers and general workers for construction-related activities,” he said.
The Transport Minister was commenting on the project after witnessing the signing ceremony of the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) supplement agreement No.6 for the ECRL project yesterday.
The signing between Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) and China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC) was also witnessed by China’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Ouyang Yujing.
Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Isham Ishak, who represented the Malaysian government, signed the document with MRL chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak, ECRL managing director Kong Qi, and its deputy project director and chief engineer Deng Bo.
In a Facebook post, Dr Wee said once it is operational, which is expected by January 2027, the ECRL would transport both cargo and passengers through existing industrial and residential areas.
“It will directly connect passengers from the East Coast to ITT Gombak, which is the gateway to Kuala Lumpur and vice versa.
“The journey from Kota Baru to ITT Gombak and vice versa is expected to take only four hours using the ECRL compared with an average of seven hours by road, or up to 12 hours during festive seasons,” he said.
In another post, Dr Wee expressed the ministry’s commitment to assist motor parts traders to resolve a number of issues that are hurting industry players.
He said this after receiving a delegation from the Selangor and Federal Territory Engineering and Motor Parts Traders Association of Malaysia.
Among the issues that were highlighted were the difficulties in obtaining the E-mark certification, HS Codes, as well as the need to streamline Component Type Approval and Vehicle Type Approval applications.
E-mark approval is needed for exporters to comply with the international vehicle type approval regulations issued by the Economic Commission for Europe, while HS Codes stand for Harmonised Commodity Description & Coding System, a system created by the Customs Department to classify commodities when they are being declared at the custom frontiers by exporters and importers.
“I listened to their feedback on several issues faced by more than 1,100 member companies associated with the association and many other companies nationwide involved in trading aftermarket auto parts.
“We will coordinate with the relevant authorities and ministries to help their members expedite their processes in these matters,” he said.
