PETALING JAYA: The costs for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project has been reduced by RM11 billion compared to the original cost of RM85.97 billion in 2016, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
In 2021, then transport minister Wee Ka Siong said the project would cost RM50.27 billion following changes to its alignment.
At a press conference today, Anwar said there was a “slight addition” in costs due to the need for increased funding for the project’s realignment.
However, he said the new cost of the project is still lower than the original figure reported in 2016.
“Our decision is to continue with the project that has been approved, but without making any more changes because that will only delay its implementation and complicate existing works and negotiations.
“I congratulate the transport, finance and works ministries for helping to expedite negotiations and being able to reduce the total costs compared to what was approved in 2016,” he said.
On Dec 6, transport minister Loke Siew Fook said the new federal government will continue with the project despite the change in administration after the Nov 19 general election.
The 665km rail network, which includes 59 tunnels, will traverse four states – Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor.
Loke was the transport minister from May 2018 to February 2020, under the Dr Mahathir Mohamad-led Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration.
The PH government had halted the ECRL project momentarily when it came to power in 2018, after construction began in August 2017. Work resumed in 2019.
During the recent election campaign, Loke had pledged that the project would not be cancelled if PH formed the government.
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