THE 640km East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is expected to be operational as early as January 1, 2027.

Deputy Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Bakri said the rail project, which will connect the east coast states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang to Negri Sembilan, Putrajaya and the Klang Valley, is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.

He said ECRL will be a catalyst for economic growth in the east coast of the peninsula and the country as a whole over the coming decades.

“This project is expected to boost trade between Malaysia and China. Being a China-funded project, we hope Malaysia’s commodity exports, in particular oil, gas, palm oil, rubber and manufactured products, can penetrate the Chinese market more effectively.

“When the Covid-19 pandemic ends, there will be an influx of Chinese tourists for sure, and the country’s tourism revenue will increase,” he said in a statement issued after a briefing on the project.

The ECRL route has been shortened by 48km from its original 688km, and its stations reduced from 26 to 20. Subsequently, the project’s cost decreased from RM65.5 billion to RM44 billion. – Bernama, July 22, 2020.