A PROPOSAL to extend the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, is currently under consideration by Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) and the Ministry of Transport, as part of efforts to enhance rail connectivity with Thailand.
Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar, Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan, said the state has suggested the revised alignment in light of a bilateral agreement between Malaysia and Thailand to revive the existing railway line between Pasir Mas and Sungai Golok under Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), reconnecting the two nations’ railway networks.
“The Kelantan government is currently proposing that the ECRL line be extended to Rantau Panjang in Pasir Mas from Kota Bharu, rather than to the original alignment in Tumpat,” he said.
He made the remarks during the State Legislative Assembly sitting at the Kota Darulnaim Complex, in response to a supplementary question from Mohd Adanan Hassan (PAS–Kelaboran), who had queried efforts to reinstate the ECRL’s original Tumpat alignment.
Earlier, Transport Minister Anthony Loke confirmed that the Ministry is reviewing the Kota Bharu–Rantau Panjang extension proposal as part of a broader plan to strengthen transport links with Thailand.
Mohamed Fadzli further noted that the Kelantan government has developed a strategic blueprint to maximise economic benefits from the ECRL’s presence, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
“One of the main initiatives underway is the development of a Cargo Oriented Development (COD) at Pasir Puteh Station, which is expected to draw both domestic and foreign investment. This will also generate downstream activities in logistics, raw material supply, and packaging,” he said.
“In addition, Transit Oriented Development (TOD) around the Tunjong Station in Kota Bharu is expected to help transform Tunjong into a modern township, promoting a balanced economic ecosystem focused on mobility, employment and quality of life,” he added.
The ECRL project, one of Malaysia’s largest infrastructure undertakings, is slated for full completion by the end of 2026. Passenger and freight services on the Kota Bharu–Gombak, Selangor route are expected to commence in January 2027. The second segment, from Gombak to Port Klang, is anticipated to be completed by 2028. - July 21, 2025
