Govt to proceed with ECRL project, now RM11 bil cheaper: Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR – The overall cost to complete the 665km East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project is now RM11.01 billion lower than originally set, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced today.

He said although there has been some increase in cost due to a rail realignment, the government has managed to reduce it after the Finance Ministry, Transport Ministry, and Works Ministry conducted negotiations.

“The overall cost of the ECRL is now RM11.01 billion lower than the original cost of RM85.97 billion set in 2016,” he told a press conference today after chairing the cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya today.

According to Anwar, the government’s decision to proceed with the contentious project without any further changes is to prevent further delays to its completion and complication to ongoing works and negotiations.

“I thank the transport, finance, and works ministries, which have helped expedite the negotiation process and lower the overall cost of the project.”

He said this was among several decisions made at today’s meeting.

Previously on December 6, Transport Minister Anthony Loke had said that despite the change in government following the recent general election, the ECRL project would proceed without any changes.

Aside from ECRL, the DAP Seremban MP said improvement of public transport service digitalisation and road safety will also be among his ministry’s key agendas. – The Vibes, December 21, 2022