SHAH ALAM: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which will connect Port Klang to Pengkalan Kubor, Kelantan, has been welcomed as a project that can further develop Port Klang as a city and a major shipping gateway in Malaysia.
Barisan Nasional coordinator for the Pelabuhan Klang state constituency, Datuk Nasarruddin Mohd Zin, said Port Klang, which had two major ports, required an efficient transportation system.
“In the process of handling the export and import of goods, we have to have a fast and inexpensive system of transportation to compete in the handling of merchandise.
“In addition, a network of roads is indispensable for us to remain a competitive port and enhance our position from the 11th spot in the world,” he said.
He was commenting on the announcement by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak when tabling Budget 2018 in Parliament yesterday that the construction of the ECRL project would begin in January 2018 and that the ECRL had the capacity to transport cargo and passengers within four hours.
Nasarruddin, who is Klang UMNO Division chief, said the people anticipated a spillover of economic opportunities along the alignment.
“Exporters, importers and commercial players hope that the new transportation system will revitalise the development of Port Klang and develop the surrounding areas,” he said.
He also said that the Light Rail Transit 3 line between Bandar Utama and Johan Setia, Klang, would also raise the socio-economic status of the people in the locality.
The LRT3 was expected to be completed in February 2021. - Bernama