KUALA LUMPUR, Jul 27 (NNN-BERNAMA) – The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), a mega rail project in Malaysia, being built by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), will enable seamless logistics connectivity between ports and logistics centres in Malaysia when completed, thus optimising the country’s trade and transport potential, a Malaysian official said, yesterday.
Not only will this enable greater efficiency, it will also allow Malaysia to realise its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), by moving a large portion of freight transported from fossil fuel trucks and vehicles, to electrified trains, Darwis Abdul Razak, chief executive officer of Malaysia Rail Link (MRL), the ECRL project owner, said, during a panel discussion here.
“Instead of trucking freight cargo, a large amount is projected to be carried on the ECRL, which will help reduce emissions and realise our ESG goals, especially environmental and emission goals, as it will be a transition from trucks to an electrified railway,” he said, at the “Seamless Connectivity: ECRL’s Role in Optimising East and West Ports Logistics” panel, held in conjunction with the Selangor Investment & Industrial Park Expo (SPARK) 2024.
“It will also mean less competition on our road network, not to mention the reduced number of vehicles, as the passenger component of ECRL will enable safe and efficient travel for the public.”
Meanwhile, Kuantan Port chief commercial officer, Mazlim Husin said, the ECRL has incentivised the upgrading of the Kuantan Port, to be capable of handling much larger vessels and allowing for greater economies of scale.
“This enabled us to support the development of heavy industries in the hinterland,” he said, adding, this has contributed to development in not just Pahang state but along the east coast.
The ECRL runs from Malaysia’s largest transport hub, Port Klang, and travels across the peninsula to Kelantan state in north-eastern Malaysia. The rail link is expected to enhance connectivity, and bring more balanced growth to the country, by linking its less-developed region on the east coast to the economic heartland on the west coast, upon its completion.– NNN-BERNAMA
