Transport Minister Anthony Loke has rubbished allegations that the Rantau by-election had any bearing on the move to realign the East Coast Rail Link to include Negeri Sembilan.
Loke said Malaysia had been renegotiating the ECRL since last year, long before the Rantau by-election was announced.
"We announced it (the realignment) today because (the chief negotiator) Daim Zainuddin is in China. The deal was finalised so an announcement was made.
"It has nothing to do with tomorrow's by-election. This announcement is for the benefit of the whole country," Loke said at Pakatan Harapan's final campaign rally at Bandar Sri Sendayan tonight.
Daim today announced in Beijing that the ECRL project had been successfully renegotiated to save RM21.5 billion off the original price tag of RM66.5 billion.
The savings come with a revised route with the original line from Kelantan to Terengganu and Pahang being maintained.
However, instead of going through Bentong and on to Gombak, the line will now turn south at Mentakab and into Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan, before heading towards Kuala Kelawang, Bangi, Putrajaya and finally Port Klang.
Loke said by skipping Bentong, the government was able to save the "expensive" cost of digging a tunnel through the Titiwangsa mountain range.
He said the new route will be a boon for industrial areas along the route and will help the government to develop rural areas. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.