27 October 2017, Kuala Lumpur: In order to ensure a more balanced economic spillover between urban and rural areas, the government will improve logistics and transport infrastructure through seven measures in the 2018 Budget.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government will allocate a sum of RM110 million under the East Coast Rail Link (ERCL) project to provide an alternative road to Port Klang to smoothen and complement the transportation network.
Najib said the ECRL, which connects Port Klang to Pengkalan Kubor, Kelantan, has the capacity to transport cargo and passengers within four hours. It is scheduled to begin construction in January next year, he said.
Meanwhile, he said, the government will expedite the construction of the MRT3, or Circle Line, to be completed by 2025, earlier that the initial target of 2027. Furthermore, the construction of LRT3 project. which will connect Bandar Utama to Johan Setia, Klang is expected to be completed by February 2021, he said.
For the Central Spine Road, Najib said, a sum of RM230 million will be allocated in 2018 to continue the construction work, among others, road from Raub to Bentong and Gua Musang, Kelantan to Kampung Relong, Pahang.
Pulau Pangkor in Perak will be declared as Duty-free Island. However, the duty-free status excludes products such as alcoholic beverages, tobacco and motor vehicles, Najib said.
To stimulate the economic growth in the northern area, Najib said, a Special Border Economic Zone in Bukit Kayu Hitam will be developed. This development will include Free Industrial Zone which will be a new attraction for both domestic and foreign investors.
The other infrastructure development includes the High-Speed Rail project that connects Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, which will benefit the people beginning 2026 and the West Coast Highway from Banting, Selangor to Taiping, Perak, which is under construction with an estimated cost of RM5 billion, he said.
— BERNAMA
Feature Image: spad.gov.my