SHAH ALAM, Aug 20 – The proposed Selangor Rail Line linking the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to Port Klang will be evaluated under a new comprehensive Malaysia Railway Masterplan.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the proposal was presented to the ministry last year, with feedback provided to the state government and project consultant for further refinement.
Aside from the issue of development costs, all planned and ongoing rail infrastructure projects in the country are currently being evaluated individually by their respective project owners, making integration a challenge.
“To address this, the ministry intends to develop the Malaysia Railway Masterplan as a comprehensive guide to enhance the country’s rail industry.
“It will not only serve as a reference for industry players but also help the government optimise funding allocation for existing and future rail projects,” he said in a written Parliamentary reply, dated yesterday.
Loke was responding to Gombak MP Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari’s query on the government’s readiness to implement the Selangor Rail Line project, which aims to connect KLIA, the Subang Airport, and Port Klang, while revitalising the West Coast corridor.
Amirudin, who is also the Selangor Menteri Besar, also wanted to know the project’s main challenges, apart from costs.
The minister added that the Transport Ministry welcomes feedback on the Malaysia Railway Masterplan to ensure the Selangor Rail Line is aligned with the national rail development agenda.
Plans for a new railway line connecting Klang to the northern region of the state were first mooted as part of the Selangor Pakatan Harapan election manifesto ahead of the state election in August 2023.
When presenting the 2024 Selangor Budget, Amirudin announced that the project development would begin with a feasibility study, funded with a RM3 million allocation.
State executive councillor for investment, trade, and mobility Ng Sze Han had said the study identified a proposed 200km rail alignment, with four suggested supporting lines located in West Port, Klang, Putra Heights, and Universiti Selangor's Bestari Jaya campus.
Later, during the 2025 Selangor Budget tabling, the Menteri Besar said the proposed line is set to extend beyond the state’s borders and into Negeri Sembilan, with spur lines connecting to key locations like Westport and Klang.
If approved, the construction of the Kita Selangor Rail alignment is expected to span up to 10 years and would be carried out in multiple phases.
On July 30, Amirudin said the project has entered a crucial phase, focusing on developing financing strategies and identifying investment partners to ensure its implementation is sustainable and delivers maximum benefits to the public.
Discussions are underway with the State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) and appointed consultant HSS Integrated Sdn Bhd to explore potential collaborations in a long-term plan aimed at strengthening Selangor’s public transport network.
