GOOD NEWS FOR THE ECONOMY: ECRL PROJECT EXPECTED TO RESTART – CHINESE WORKERS RETURNING TO MALAYSIA

CHINESE workers in the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project have started returning to Malaysia, a sure indication that it is set to kick-start again.

Sources told The Malaysian Insight that some of these workers, who were sent back to their home country after the Pakatan Harapan government put the project on ice, have returned over the past two weeks.

When the cancellation of ECRL was announced last July, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) workers flew back home, leaving local employees to continue with whatever little needed to be done.

However, things have begun moving once more, following speculation that Putrajaya and Beijing have reached an agreement.

A visit to a site in Kg Temiang near Bentong showed no construction being carried out, but about 10 cars were parked at the site’s office 15 minutes away, indicating that the project is not dead.

An employee who spoke on condition of anonymity said Chinese workers are returning, and that the company has imposed a gag order on staff to ensure they do not share project-related information with outsiders.

It is understood that the ECRL site office in Bentong has 126 employees, comprising administrators (35), drivers (57), on-site technicians (18), and logistics and cleaning personnel (16). Of the total, 76 – or 60% – are locals.

Asked if the company has issued a circular on the project’s status, the employee said no.

“The company has not issued a circular. I think it’s because they are waiting for the government to make an official announcement.”

Apart from returning to the Bentong site, he said, Chinese workers have been told to report to the main office in Kuala Lumpur.

Work at the ECRL site in Bentong has stopped and the project’s workers have left, says a Kg Temiang resident. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, March 1, 2019.

On July 3 last year, CCCC received a stop-work order, affecting the firm’s workers at the Mentakab, Bentong, Kuala Lumpur and Lentang sites. In all, hundreds of administrative staff and some 4,000 engineers, labourers, logistics and transport workers were affected.

However, ECRL appears to be back on track, with Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng saying on February 21 that Malaysia and China will reach an agreement on the project by April.

Two days later, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the project will continue if the countries are able to agree on its price.

“If the price is right, then we will continue. But at the moment, we have not agreed on the price.”

He said the project, as it stands, would cost some RM55 billion, to be repaid over the next 30 years.

With interest, it would cost about RM140 billion, said Dr Mahathir.

Despite the return of Chinese workers, the local economy in areas where ECRL project sites are located continues to be dull.

A Kg Temiang resident, who wanted to be known only as Azman, said work at the Bentong site has stopped and the project’s workers have left.

“About two years ago, when CCCC came and set up the site, there were a lot of workers.

“Lorries and cement mixers transporting construction materials went in and out all the time. There were plenty of workers. But now, they’re all gone.”

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT