KUANTAN: Cellular and Internet coverage, especially in the rural parts of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, will improve with the completion of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
This is due to the government’s push to bring digital and modern communications services to all, in tandem with other forms of physical development.
“It’s a case of where there’s a road, there’s Internet. In the case of ECRL, it is where there’s rail, there’s Internet,” he said in his speech after witnessing the handover of the letter of appointment from Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) to Maxis Bhd as the preferred telecommunications provider for the ECRL alignment that stretches from Kota Baru to Port Klang.
MRL is the project and asset owner for the 665km rail link that is expected to enter into passenger service by early 2027.
Under the 10-year contract as the Single Preferred Infrastructure Provider and Telecommunications Partner for ECRL, Maxis will be the lead telco in the provision of services for the rail alignment together with other service providers such as YTL, UMobile and CelcomDigi, including the optimisation of the railway’s fibre optic cable asset.
“I would like to congratulate this close collaboration between MRL and Maxis, as this represents an important step in the national digitalisation process.”
Fahmi said this kind of collaborative arrangement benefits not just train passengers, but also extends to those living along the rail alignment.
“This is an example of digital development moving along with physical development, with service quality that will be in line with the Mandatory Standards for Quality of Service (of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission),” he said.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke and China’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Ouyang Yujing were also present at the event to mark the arrival of the first two passenger train sets dubbed as “golden train” and cargo locomotives.
Latching on to Fahmi’s call for overall better coverage, Loke said there is a need for the government to look at the underserved parts along KTM Bhd’s alignment.
On the new train sets, Loke affirmed the government’s focus on ensuring that national infrastructure projects will continue to be rolled out in a sustainable manner.
“This is to ensure that these projects provide direct benefits to the people, especially in catalysing economic growth in the East Coast region,” he said.
On the ECRL project, Loke said it has recorded 91.7% construction progress as of January, with the focus now shifting to operational preparations.
He said the arrival of Malaysia’s first electric multiple unit (EMU) trains and electric locomotives (E-Loco) marks a significant phase for the RM50.27bil national infrastructure project.
“With the receipt of the EMU and E-Loco, we will enter an important phase, which is train testing and commissioning.
This aligns with the overall project schedule, and we expect that the planned timeline for the ECRL to commence operations in January next year, can be achieved,” he said.
The 665km ECRL project has allocated 11 six-car EMU train sets for passenger services and 12 E-Loco for cargo purposes.
So far, two EMU train sets and two E-Loco have arrived in Malaysia at the end of last year and were officially launched yesterday.
