KUALA TERENGGANU: Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd is preparing for the upcoming monsoon season to ensure immediate aid delivery during potential flood disasters along the East Coast Rail Link project route.
MRL chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak stated that early preparations have been made at all levels to maintain operations while providing assistance to affected areas.
“We have made preparations to ensure that in any incident, aid can be channeled through ECRL as done in previous years,” he told reporters after visiting the Kuala Terengganu ECRL Station.
Darwis confirmed that several high-risk areas have been identified along the Terengganu and Kelantan alignments that face potential flooding during monsoon seasons.
“Almost the entire alignment in Terengganu is potentially affected, with Pasir Puteh in Kelantan being the most critical area based on last year’s experience,” he explained.
He added that weather factors and monsoon seasons have been incorporated into the ECRL project planning and completion schedule for safe and orderly construction.
Most risk areas have been identified with appropriate mitigation actions taken to reduce flooding impacts on local communities and construction works.
“We don’t rule out other potentially affected areas and will take full responsibility for any incidents related to ECRL works with immediate corrective actions,” Darwis assured.
The overall ECRL project progress has reached 88.08% completion, with the Terengganu alignment achieving 93.55% completion.
Bandar Permaisuri Station stands at 77% completion while Kuala Terengganu Main Station has reached 68% completion.
Chief Secretary to the Government and MRL chairman Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar confirmed ECRL Phase 1 from Kota Bharu to Gombak Integrated Terminal will complete in December 2026 and operational by January 2027.
Phase 2 from Gombak to Port Klang is expected to finish in December 2027, enabling full project operation by January 2028. – Bernama
