Council of Eminent Persons chairperson Daim Zainuddin has disputed the East Coast Railway Link’s (ECRL) RM55 billion price tag, as touted by former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
“It's not RM55 billion. That’s only the first phase. If you include the second phase, it’s probably another RM11 billion.
“If you take into account the interest rate and all, it’s probably much much more, but I’ll let the govt announce what (the cost is).
“These are the figures I got from the (ECRL) team,” Daim told a press conference at Menara Ilham today.
A list distributed to the press said that the council had met with Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd, the firm that owns the ECRL, on Wednesday this week (May 16).
Pressed on whether he thought the project was necessary, Daim was coy but said voices from the ground seemed to disagree with it.
“I was in Kelantan, and they said they prefer to have the money,” quipped the former finance minister.
Najib previously called the ECRL a “game changer”that would boost economic growth in three states along the East Coast of Peninsula Malaysia.
The ECRL, previously slated for a June 2024 completion date, is planned to link Port Klang in Selangor with Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan.
[More to follow] - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.