THE East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project is now 85 per cent complete, with Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) directed to maintain strict oversight as it enters the final phase of construction.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, who chaired the 32nd MRL Board of Directors meeting during a retreat in Melaka, said it was crucial that MRL prevent any incidents of encroachment or sabotage that could jeopardise the timeline. The project is currently slated to begin operations in early 2027.
“I am confident that this ECRL project will become a landmark of national pride and a catalyst for economic revitalisation along its alignment and surrounding areas, directly benefiting the people and the nation,” he said in a post on Facebook.
Shamsul Azri noted that the project exemplifies the ‘Kesejahteraan’ or prosperity pillar under the government’s MADANI philosophy, which emphasises a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach involving federal, state and private sector collaboration.
In a separate update, he said the MRL retreat was aimed at refining operational objectives and shaping the future of rail connectivity in Malaysia.
“Many things are being planned by the MRL in collaboration with various parties to ensure an efficient rail operating ecosystem, as well as offering job opportunities to local children,” he wrote.
Shamsul Azri emphasised the transformative potential of the ECRL in bridging the economic divide between the East and West Coasts of Peninsular Malaysia, while enhancing national logistics capacity and spurring local enterprise. - July 5, 2025
