KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 — The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, which spans Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and Selangor, has reached an overall progress rate of 82.45 per cent as of April, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
A key milestone was achieved with the completion of 400 kilometres of track installation along the main alignment from Maran, Pahang, to Kota Bharu in Kelantan, two and a half months ahead of schedule.
“We extend our congratulations to ECRL and CCCC (China Communications Construction Company Ltd). When the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) asked me whether the project is on time, I told him, ‘Not just on time, it is ahead of schedule’,” he said.
Lokewas speaking at the launch of ECRL Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Job Opportunities and PLKI-ECRL Offer Letter ceremony, which the Prime Minister also attended.
He added that the next phase of track installation, a 100-kilometre stretch from Maran to Bentong, will begin this month and is expected to be completed by the end of June.
Electrification works commenced in May last year, and will be followed by the installation of signaling, telecommunications and information systems in preparation for the ECRL’s operational phase.
Meanwhile, as part of human capital development, CCCC has pledged RM12 million to support the East Coast Rail Link Industrial Skills Training Programme (PLKI-ECRL) for the O&M phase, aiming to train 3,200 individuals.
“This year alone, 210 Malaysian trainees from diverse backgrounds will undergo an intensive one-year training in Liuzhou, China,” Loke said.
The first batch of 102 trainees is scheduled to leave in stages next Thursday (May 15).
The training covers technical and non-technical disciplines, with modules including theory, practical work, and hands-on experience in real railway operations.
Upon completion, trainees are guaranteed employment with ECRL in roles like Assistant Station Attendants, Signalling Technicians, Assistant Train Drivers, Overhead Line Technicians, and Electric Locomotive and Electric Multiple Unit Maintenance Technicians.
“Even more encouraging, the trainees in this programme are guaranteed employment with ECRL upon completing their training,” he said.
Loke also announced that the ECRL operating company, involving Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) as the project owner and CCCC, has been officially established and registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia as ECRL Operation Sdn Bhd.
— Bernama
