Annuar: Economic landscape of east coast states to change with ECRL

KOTA BARU: Implementation of the proposed East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) project is expected to change the economic landscape of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, the three states in the east coast of the peninsula.
Ketereh Member of Parliament Tan Sri Annuar Musa (pix) said implementation of the project would turn the three states into a trade hub, a tourist destination and a new investment area in the country.
He said it would also make Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang part of the trade route stretching to Europe, Asia and Africa under the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) and the New Maritime Silk Road (MSR) initiatives launched in China.
"OBOR covers 65 countries with a population of 4.4 billion people, so imagine the diverse possibilities for the east coast people.
"At a time when many countries are slowing down due to trade fear, we are brave to move ahead with confidence," he said in an open letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, which was distributed to the media here today.
Najib, through the tabling of Budget 2017, announced the ECRL project, stretching 600km from Kuala Lumpur across Pahang and Terengganu to Tumpat, in Kelantan, which will cost RM55 billion.
Annuar, who is also Umno Information chief, said implementation of the project would also change the lives of the people along the east coast corridor with the creating of more jobs and economic opportunities.
It will see the setting up of new townships, more growth centres in the rural areas, he added.
"When completed, the train service will link the east coast to the Klang valley in the west coast, Singapore in the south and China in the north.
"Price of goods will drop, with travelling time between the east and west to be shortened and the living standard of the people will improve," he added. — Bernama