KUALA LUMPUR: The announcement that the government would drop the third Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (MRT3) line project came as a surprise to many, with mixed reactions amongst the public.
In making the announcement, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the project would cost up to RM40 billion to construct.
"The MRT3 project will be discontinued," he said, apart from confirming that the Kuala Lumpur - Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project too would be scrapped.
The New Straits Times conducted an online poll on Facebook and Twitter to gauge what Netizens thought about this.
To a question on should the MRT3 project be scrapped, as at press time, some 1,000 Facebook users answered yes, out of a total of 1,641 who answered the poll.
On Twitter, 57 percent of 1,569 people who answered the poll answered yes, while 43 percent said the project should not be scrapped.
Also known as the MRT Circle Line, the project was initially scheduled to be 40km in length, 32km of which would be underground with 26 stations planned along the route.
The line, which was planned to run around the periphery of Kuala Lumpur city centre, would have included Ampang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Jalan Bukit Bintang, the Tun Razak Exchange, Bandar Malaysia, KL Eco City, Pusat Bandar Damansara, Mont Kiara and Sentul.
Twitter user @rebelious_dean commented, "Scrap. Only spend when you can. Do you apply a loan to buy a Ferrari with the salary of a normal executive?"
"Even the MRT1 also seems less people using...MRT2 don't know yet how it will perform...so better cancel the MRT3 for now," said user @anan9456.
Another user @dan_aso opined that the project should be scrapped until Malaysia fixes its debt situation.
"The area mention as above is all easily accessible thru current public transport. Agree: Scrap," said user @dawnmalaysia.
On Facebook, the poll garnered 84 comments, with many voicing their support for the project to be axed, at least for now.
"KIV (keep in view) until we can afford it," said Chee Keong Chan.
Tan Sak Moi said, "Yes...till we clear more of our national debt."
Meanwhile Facebook user GK Ananda said briefly, "Delayed."
"We're gonna see more Protons and rempits on the road then. Yeay!" said Saber El Semaun, most likely sarcastically referring to the traffic condition without the MRT3 project.
"I think this shouldn't be scrapped but perhaps the cost should be renegotiated," said Wong KK.
Sharnia Menon said she wished the project could be kept in view first rather than cancelling it.
In what appears to be an attempt at sarcastic humour, user Steven Cheah said, "Ok waiting now for hate messages from people who just bought properties near the line."
To vote on Twitter click here or on Facebook click here