KUALA TERENGGANU: Menteri Besar Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar will meet Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad first before making any statements on the resumption of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.
In a short message via Twitter, Samsuri said he wanted to know about the latest developments in the project from Dr Mahathir.
“I will only comment after getting a clearer explanation in a meeting with Tun (Dr) Mahathir,” he tweeted.
The prime minister’s special envoy, Tun Daim Zainuddin, had said that the new alignment for the ECRL, which will now be 40km shorter, and start from Kota Bharu through Mentakab - Jelebu - Kuala Kelawang - Bangi/ Kajang - Putrajaya - Port Klang.
The new alignment does not include any station stopover in Terengganu.
Earlier, state chairman for Infrastructure, Public Facilities, Utilities and Green Technology, Dr Mamad Putih, had projected that the ECRL would enable the construction of feeder railways that would open up Terengganu’s hinterland following the agreement between Malaysia and China to resume the construction of the ECRL.
“We have waited for this news for some time. We want the ECRL because of its huge economic benefits that will generate revenue for the state government and also the people who will get spillovers from the project.
“It will open up possibilities for construction of feeder railway lines to the industrial districts of Kemaman and Paka as well as the capital Kuala Terengganu.
“Setiu and Besut will see growth hastened, especially in the tourism sector,” he said.