KUALA LUMPUR: People from the East Coast are still hopeful that the East Coast Rail (ECRL) project, which is currently being reviewed by the new government, will continue as scheduled as it will ease time and cost for those travelling from that part of Malaysia.
Suraya Omar, a single parent who hails from Kelantan, said the ECRL transportation project was much-awaited because of its many benefits.
The mammoth RM55 billion budget ECRL project will become the longest railway track in the country, when completed. The rail link, scheduled for completion in 2024, would connect Port Klang in Selangor to Pengkalan Kubor in Kelantan, cutting across Pahang and Terengganu.
The project has come under scrutiny because of its burgeoning cost.
“Right now I am travelling back and forth by car, accompanied by an employee, to visit my three children who are being looked after by my sibling. I travel back almost every week,” said Suraya who cannot afford a flight back home although she resides in Subang Jaya which is not far from the airport.
The petty trader said she was overjoyed when she heard the news that the government was going to build the ECRL as it will make things easy for her and many others who are working outside the state.
“I hope the newly-formed government will favourably consider the plight of many of us from the East Coast. The people and country will accrue many benefits and advantages from this project if it is implemented,” she added.
Echoing her views, Mohd Faris Azmi from Pasir Puteh, who travels home once in every two weeks, opined that the ECRL will not only be convenient but also cut travel time compared with driving by car.
The 33-year old private sector employee said travelling time is only between two and three hours.
“I can relax and sit back and enjoy the journey all the way back to my destination. For those working like me, we only get to take in the sights and destress ourselves on journeys like this.
“It saves time, money, energy and will create many business opportunities especially for Kelantanese who like to do business. The 688 kilometre rail link will not only serve as a medium to attract tourists to Malaysia but also benefit state coffers through the economic propulsion of trade, enterprise and development,” said Mohd Faris.
It’s a different story with Fatin Syahirah Mohd Yusri, a tertiary student, felt that the number of road accidents can be considerably reduced especially during festive seasons.
“With the ECRL, the percentage of accidents will definitely decrease. Right now, public awareness of the dangers of long-distance driving in Malaysia is still low.
“On the average, people want to go home and get to their destination quickly,” she said, adding that attitudes cannot change. In fact with the passage of time, streets thugs and bullies are rearing their ugly head, making road journeys dangerous.
One way to minimise such undesirable occurrences, she said, would be to have an alternative means of transportation to the East Coast.
“As future graduates, there will also be ample employment opportunities for us especially with the ECRL. The country’s economy and tourism sector will continue to flourish and communication with different countries will be further enhanced,” said Fatin.
Meanwhile, Kelantan Chief Police Officer Datuk Hasanuddin Hassan said more than one million outstation vehicles were expected to enter Kelantan via Pasir Puteh, Gua Musang and Jeli during this year’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri exodus.
For the record, in 2016 the Kelantan Road Transport Department reported that three million vehicles entered and exited the state for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive season.
Given the numbers, it’s will be worth investing in an alternative transportation mode besides beefing up the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Bharu, which also experiences heavy air traffic, during festive seasons, as airlines offer many attractive packages, from time to time, to lure travellers.
Infact, the Sultan Ismail Airport, one of the busi
est airport in Malaysia handling outgoing and inbound traffic besides being a transit hub, is now undergoing a RM483 million extension work to be upgraded into an international airport to receive more direct flight from neighbouring countries.
It will also attract investors and boost the state’s economy once it is completed in three years.
However, how effective can it be as there are still many Kelantanese who abstain from using air transport, as a mode of transportation, for reasons best known to them.
For those residing in Gua Musang and the interiors of Kelantan, air transport will be out of the question as getting to the airport alone will take two to three hours. They will resort to bus or train service instead.
This is where the ECRL will come in as an efficient transport system, as it will serve stations and routes which are densely populated.
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Communications and Media Studies, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Ahmad Faisal Mohamed Fiah said the ECRL project will be viable especially in the East Coast and should be carried out.
He said the project will indirectly develop the three east coast states of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan and place them at par economically with other states in the peninsula.
“At the same time, it can provide ease of travel and convenience plus reduce dependence on car journeys especially for those who travel back to their hometowns during festive seasons.
“What’s more, tourism will flourish rapidly in these three states,” he said, adding that the ECRL will compliment the entire land transportation system in Malaysia.
As such, the government should seriously consider carrying out the project if not now, at least in the future, ” he added. --Bernama
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