Veteran transport consultant Rosli Azad Khan said the government had made clear its transport priorities in the 12th Malaysia Plan, which emphasises the need to enhance connectivity and transport infrastructure.
However, he said, it was ironic that the government itself was holding back the KVDT2 project which essentially serves to replace an aged rail line.
The KVDT2 project involves the rehabilitation of 265km of railway tracks from Salak South in Kuala Lumpur to Seremban and from Simpang Port Klang near MidValley in Kuala Lumpur to Port Klang.
The project has been delayed twice since 2017. It was cancelled by the Pakatan Harapan government, then reinstated, then cancelled again by the Perikatan Nasional government, leading to a suit by the contractor, Dhaya Maju-LTAT.
Rosli said the Transport Master Plan called for a major shift of traffic, both passenger and freight, from roads to rail. “The development of rail infrastructure should take this strategy into account and make sure that rail transport, including KVDT2, will be able to accommodate the big shift.”
Rosli said the government must stop delaying the KVDT2 as the project was a key component of public transport in the Klang Valley, serving freight and passengers in large volumes.
“Safety and available capacity, especially for passengers, should be given top priority in the 12MP ahead of highways and other transport infrastructure such as the ECRL (East Coast Rail Link project).
“The Port Klang-Serendah bypass should also be given top priority in order for freight trains to bypass KL Sentral. They don’t have to wait for ECRL, it should go ahead on its own,” he added.
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd Workers’ Union president Abdul Razak Md Hassan said further delays would only risk the safety of the people.
He urged the government to return to the negotiation table with the project contractor, adding that if the legal process continues, not only would there be a prolonged delay, it will also hinder KTMB’s progress.
“If the delays continue, KTMB will be at risk of losing revenue as well,” he added.