Minister confirms ECRL reroute to Negeri if project back on track

RANTAU POLLS | The alignment of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) will be rerouted to benefit Negeri Sembilan if it is resumed after negotiations with the Chinese government at the end of this month.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who confirmed the matter, said a decision was expected to be achieved during Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's visit to the republic to discuss, among others, lowering the cost of construction for the megaproject.

“As transport minister, I can say what Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng revealed yesterday on ECRL is correct, as the project is being negotiated, and there will be a decision in a few weeks as Mahathir will be going to China at the end of this month.

“If it is successful, it is confirmed Negeri Sembilan will benefit, as we want to focus on development here,” he told a ceramah session in Rantau last night.

Yesterday, Lim, in his talk on the Rantau by-election campaign trail, indicated the project would go on if the cost of construction was reduced to RM35 billion from the original RM66 billion.

He also hinted that the railway alignment would be rerouted to benefit Negeri Sembilan.

- Bernama