By Yasmin Ramlan
SERENDAH, July 1 — The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project has reached a major engineering milestone with the breakthrough of the Serendah 2 tunnel, six months ahead of schedule.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar credited the successful breakthrough of the 9.88 km tunnel to the close cooperation between Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL), the China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC), and the local authorities.
“This is a historic day. The Serendah 2 tunnel was completed six months earlier than the original target of December 2025, with a breakthrough achieved on June 26.
“This reflects the project’s excellent coordination and commitment,” he said during the tunnel’s breakthrough ceremony today.
Shamsul added that the ECRL project has reached 83.38 per cent completion as of today and is on track for completion by the end of 2026, with operations expected to begin the same year.
He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering the Bumiputera economy, with nearly RM18 billion worth of contracts from the ECRL project already awarded to local contractors, consultants, and suppliers.
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A view of the East Coast Rail Link project's Serendah 2 tunnel during its breakthrough ceremony in Serendah on July 1, 2025. — Picture by HARUN TAJUDIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
“We have selected Bumiputera contractors who are truly efficient and reputable. This ensures the best outcomes for a project of national importance,” Shamsul told the press after the ceremony.
Meanwhile, MRL chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said the Serendah 2 tunnel represents not only an engineering achievement but also a commitment to environmental and social responsibility.
“The tunnel cuts through hilly terrain between Ulu Yam and Desa Anggerik while minimising environmental and social impacts, especially by avoiding water catchment areas and reducing disruption to surrounding communities,” he said in his speech.
Darwis noted that the tunnel also involves constructing four auxiliary tunnels to serve as emergency access points.
The 665km ECRL will traverse the East Coast states of Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang before connecting to Selangor on the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
It will significantly cut travel time, with the journey from Kota Bharu in Kelantan to the Gombak Integrated Terminal expected to take just four hours, compared to about seven hours by road.
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Malaysia Rail Link chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak (second from left), Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar (fourth from left), and dignitaries officiate the breakthrough ceremony for the East Coast Rail Link project's Serendah 2 tunnel in Serendah on July 1, 2025. — Picture by HARUN TAJUDIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
