Selangor Journal
The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) connects East Coast states such as Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang to Negeri Sembilan, Federal Territory of Putrajaya and the Klang Valley. — Picture by ECRL

Selangor reiterates stand on ECRL implementation via southern alignment

By Nasuha Badrul Huzaini

SHAH ALAM, Sept 15 — The Selangor government is still of the view that Section C of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) construction should remain through the southern alignment which includes the Kuala Langat area.

State Local Government, Public Transportation and New Village Development Committee chairman Ng Sze Han said the state government has never made a decision to agree on the proposal of the ECRL construction through the northern alignment.

“The stance is in line with the state’s economic development plan including the local council’s medium and long term plans in the areas to develop the southern zone of Selangor,” he said in a statement today.

The statement was issued following the news report by Malaysiakini dated September 14, 2021 titled ‘Despite Selangor MB statement, ECRL doesn’t cut across Kuala Langat forest’ which was inaccurate.

In the news report, ECRL project owner Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) claimed that the rail line will not travel through southern Selangor or Kuala Langat.

However, Ng said since the project was launched in 2017, the state government has decided that the rail’s construction cannot pass through the northern zone.

“Due to that, there is no approval being granted for the rail’s construction to pass through the area. Instead, the construction approval was given to the Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) in 2020 through the southern alignment.

“MRL in a statement dated January 14, 2020 has stated that the Mentakab-Port Klang alignment which involves certain areas in Negeri Sembilan and Putrajaya will be displayed for three months as an approach to gather proposals and feedback from the public.

“This indicates that both parties are ready to execute the project as per agreement, which is,  Section C of the construction will pass through the southern zone of Selangor.

“Therefore, the decision to maintain a small area of the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve (KLNFR) for the consideration of ECRL alignment is apt with the stance,” he said.

On September 8, Selangor cancelled the planned development at the KLNFR and regazetted the area, the state government also announced that a small part of the area will remain degazetted for the ECRL alignment project.

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