DUNGUN folk have mixed views on the ability of East Cost Rail Link (ECRL) project to spur economic activity in this sleepy coastal fishing town in Terengganu.

While some agree that the rail connectivity will bring in more businesses and as a result, improve the local economy, others fear their own businesses would be affected.

However, the residents in the former iron-mining town agree that the mega-rail project can become a feasible mode of transportation for them.

Zulkarnain Ali, a seafood wholesaler, told The Malaysian Insight he feared local businessmen like himself would suffer as a result of the connectivity by the rail link as it would allow products from outside the state to flood Dungun and Terengganu by large.

“What would happen to fish and related products from local fishermen? There will be fish from outside. The fishermen won’t be affected but the middlemen like us will be affected,” he said.

According to him, fish distributors here have been importing seafood from other states and selling it at Dungun.

Another seafood distributor, identified only as Zuki, who sells fish imported from other states, said the rail project won’t affect his business.

Local catches are insufficient and seafood have to be imported from Thailand, he said.

“During the monsoon, there’s no seafood at all.”

On the tourism front, Dungun is also the gateway to scenic Pulau Tenggol, which is an hour away from the district.

Nur Amalina, who works in a hotel about 4km from the project site, said having a rail link in the town will generate economic activity.

“Dungun is a small town. I hope it will develop now that there’s such an infrastructure in place.”

She said the project could also create more job opportunities for locals and attract more tourists to the area.

“Currently, tourist numbers are not certain. Sometimes there’s more, sometimes less.”

Nor Ubaidah, who also works in a resort near the site, agrees with Nur Amalina.

“With the ECRL more people will visit Dungun,” she said.

Travel option

Locals are also of the view that the project’s revival will make travelling to other states easier.

Nur Amalina and Zulkarnain said residents have been relying on bus services to go to different cities and with the ECRL, travelling will become more convenient.

Wan Muhammad Dhailul said it has been long since the town had a railway link.

“The town used to have a rail link that is no longer functioning. With the ECRL, there will be one again.”

Zaty Ambrina said she is happy that the project has been given a reboot.

The restaurant helper said with a rail link in town, Dungun will see some development.

The 640km rail network links Kota Baru to Port Klang with 20 stations along the line.

It was given a reboot in April, following a successful renegotiation between Putrajaya and  the project’s main contractor China Communications Construction Co Ltd as well as the Chinese government, which resulted in a cost reduction from RM44 billion to RM22 billion.

The ECRL was officially re-launched on Thursday and the project is expected to be completed in December 2026. – July 27, 2019.