KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry (MOT) will encourage cargo and transport companies to utilise the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) as an alternative to heavy vehicles on roads.
Its minister Anthony Loke said the policy will include providing incentives to industry players to shift to ECRL services once the rail project is completed.
He said the use of ECRL is seen as an effective solution to reduce the number of heavy vehicles on roads, which could help ease traffic congestion and minimise accident risks.
“We see this as a viable alternative, especially for routes involving heavy vehicles to the East Coast,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday.
In the Bernama report, Loke was responding to a supplementary question from Khairil Nizam Khirudin (PN-Jerantut) on whether the ministry plans to implement new policies or laws to curb the rising number of heavy vehicles during peak hours and reduce accident risks.
On Feb 4, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the overall progress of the ECRL project, spanning Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor, had reached 78.5% as of January, with the service expected to commence early 2027.
Replying to Khairil’s original question regarding the investigation into the fatal accident that claimed seven lives at KM204 of the North-South Expressway near Ayer Keroh, Melaka, on Dec 23 last year, Loke said the vehicle permit of Yinson Transport (M) Sdn Bhd, whose lorry wheel detached during the incident, was revoked effective Feb 11 due to repeated speeding violations.
“Meanwhile, (bus operator) V Travel Sdn Bhd’s vehicle licences were suspended from Feb 18 to March 19 for failing to comply with the Land Public Transport Agency’s (Apad) Industrial Code of Practice (ICOP) – Safety requirements.
“S&C Maju Enterprise’s operator licence was suspended for 30 days for failing to meet ICOP Safety standards, and its (goods) vehicle permit was revoked due to speeding violations,” he said, adding that the decision was made by the Licence Cancellation and Suspension Committee (JPPL) on Monday.
Loke also revealed that the Road Transport Department’s Inspection & Safety Audit found two out of three commercial vehicles involved in the accident, belonging to V Travel Sdn Bhd and S&C Maju Enterprise, had failed the inspection.
