PETALING JAYA: Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah described the newly launched LRT Shah Alam Line as a major boost to public transport after his first experience on board.
The Sultan of Selangor boarded at the Bandar Utama LRT station here yesterday morning and arrived at the Johan Setia station in Klang about an hour later.
Accompanying His Royal Highness were the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, and Raja Muda of Selangor, Tengku Amir Shah.
Sultan Sharafuddin congratulated Prasarana Malaysia Bhd and all parties involved for successfully delivering the LRT Shah Alam Line, saying it would greatly benefit residents of Shah Alam, Klang and surrounding areas.
In a statement issued by Istana Alam Shah, His Royal Highness said he was grateful that the long-awaited public transport project had become a reality to ease traffic congestion and provide a more efficient, comfortable and sustainable transport system.
Sultan Sharafuddin expressed hope that the line would eventually be completed as originally planned, as rail services were an important public transport facility for the people.
His Royal Highness said he looked forward to the completion of five more stations, namely Tropicana, Temasya, Raja Muda, Bukit Raja and Bandar Botanik, which would benefit residents in the surrounding areas.
The Sultan also praised the patience shown by Selangor residents through the project’s delays, saying he believed the setbacks were divine messages from God.
His Royal Highness also conveyed his highest appreciation to Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) and all those involved in the construction and operation of the line, with over 13,000 people contributing their expertise and commitment throughout the project, with an average of 8,000 workers deployed at various sites for almost 11 years.
The workforce comprised of project directors, engineers, supervisors, technicians, skilled workers, construction personnel, safety officers, logistics teams, administrative staff and support personnel.
Although the stations, tracks and trains are the visible outcome of the project, His Royal Highness said its true success lay in the dedication, professionalism and commitment of those involved.
The Ruler also expressed hope that Prasarana would continue to ensure smooth operations and minimise service disruptions.
His Royal Highness urged the public to make full use of the Shah Alam Line service to encourage greater use of public transport and help build a modern, sustainable and high-quality mobility system for the future.
Officials from Prasarana, MRCB and other agencies also joined in the train ride with the Sultan.
