12 April 2021

 

Press statement by MCA Spokesperson Mike Chong Yew Chuan

 

ECRL 3.0: Refuting fake allegations

 

 

Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Ir Dr Wee Ka Siong last week clarified the details on the ECRL 3.0 project to the media, elaborating specifically on Segment C of the original alignment decided during Barisan Nasional’s administration (Northern Alignment). At that time, Dr Wee emphasised that this will be the final decision following changes in the project from BN to PH, and now PN.

 

After the media session, the opposition retaliated, notably by DAP’s Selangor state Exco Dato’ Teng Chang Khim and Negeri Sembilan state exco Teo Kok Seong. However, the arguments presented from the duo were simply emotional, populistic, and political outbursts. What’s more, some of the pro-Opposition social media pages started to actively propagate fake news and fabricated information to smear the Transport Ministry and ECRL project.

 

The final decision on the ECRL project was made after evaluation and studies by industry experts, as well as considering the feedback from the state governments, federal territories and state departments, local authorities, and all relevant stakeholders.

 

In other words, PN’s Northern Alignment, is based on scientific and technical considerations. In all aspects including technical cost, economic benefits, cargo load, passenger volume, secondary economy development, preservation of water catchment areas, forest reserves, and Orang Asli areas, PN’s Northern Alignment is superior compared to Pakatan’s Southern Alignment.

 

Yet if we look back at the arguments made by PH leaders, they have not produced any argument for the Southern Alignment which is supported by scientific research and technical reports. They can only attempt to stir emotions through populist claims to attack the Transport Ministry through their social media pages, creating misrepresentation and smearing the project with misrepresented statistics.

 

We welcome the opposition to exact their duty in check and balancing the government. However, please use facts and figures, with a scientific and professional mindset, to substantiate the argument. Especially in matters of public interest, the people’s welfare should be the biggest priority, instead of being preoccupied with defeating the opponent.

 

As an example, let us look at their claims:

 

Without even looking at other content, this picture is most obviously defamatory for laying the blame on the Ministry of Transport over the RM1.25 million loss incurred delaying due to the delay in the project. Pardon me if I ask who is obstructing right now the construction of the ECRL? The answer is precisely the PH-controlled Selangor state government. The side costing us RM1.25 million every day is none other than DAP’s, yet they have the gall to turn the Ministry of Transport into their scapegoat in the broad daylight.


The objective of today’s press conference is to counter one-by-one all fake news PH disseminated through social media. Through juxtaposition, divided into four categories, we will compare and present the facts one at a time.

 

Perikatan Nasional’s Northern Alignment

Pakatan Harapan’s Southern Alignment

(1)  Economy

Passenger Volume: 5.03 million

Passenger Volume: 4.07 volume

Cargo Volume: 26.12 million

Cargo Volume: 9 million

 

Economic Spillovers:

 

ü  Five stations in Selangor, with economic spillover effects in Gombak, Serendah and Port Klang.

ü  Transform Serendah into the cargo hub of Selangor, promoting large enterprises like steel, automobiles, railway and aerospace industries.

ü  Stimulate tourism and commercial activities in Bentong, transforming it into the Second City of Pahang.

 

Economic Spillovers:

 

ü  Avoid dense population, missing the capital city and opting for a sparsely populated route.

(2)  Environment


Spanning 3 water catchment areas.


Spanning at least 4 water catchment areas.

Gombak Quartz Ridge:

Leaves the Quartz Ridge untouched; no erosion of its buffer zone.

Gombak Quartz Ridge:

Faces the same challenge.

Water Dam

Passes through 65% of Selangor’s water catchment area; will not encroach on Batu Dam

Water Dam

Passes through 95% of Selangor’s water catchment area

 

 

Selat Lumut Bridge:

Negatively impact the oil palm dominated landscape of Carey Island, aggravating the island’s environment and restricting future development.

 

(3)  Social

Land acquisition: 4,302 plots

Land acquisition: 6.038 plots

Affected residential areas: 11

Affected residential areas: 19

Affected Orang Asli Areas: 2

Affected Orang Asli Areas: 7

Affected Malay Reserve areas: 2

Affected Malay Reserve areas: 3

(4)  Technical

Railway Track:

MOT has proposed the Serendah-Port Klang alignment will now feature dual tracks, namely namely a standard gauge track for the ECRL and a metre gauge track for the KTMB.


The Federal Government will now be able to save on infrastructure expenditure by offering the ideal solution of implementing two rail projects for the price of one.

Railway Track:

Use of only the new standard gauge double-track, no savings in expenditure.

 

Cost:

RM50 billion

 

(Total construction cost)

 

Cost:

RM52.28 billion

 

RM44 billion (base)

RM901 million (delay compensation)

RM2.379 billion (realignment)

RM5 billion (Serendah Bypass)

 

 


Facebook link of press conference:  https://www.facebook.com/MCAHQ/videos/1110787329397798/

Facebook link of comparison between PN and PH in undertaking the ECRL project and the respective costs and impacts:
https://www.facebook.com/MCAHQ.MY/posts/752579552112787


Mike Chong Yew Chuan
MCA Spokesperson

-MCA online-