Contingent on its feasibility and the need of a particular city, Putrajaya is considering to build and expand the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system in other parts of Malaysia, reported The Star.
For example, the federal government would construct the MRT in Johor Bahru if there is a great need for it there, said Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi.
He explained that the authorities are mulling to enlarge the MRT network as it is the country’s future transport system. “We are carrying out a transformation plan for the rail system, which is quite extensive.”
“The government wants to link all cities in the country by train to make sure our economy is able to grow at a fast pace, which is possible when we have a system that can transport people as well as goods.”
This is the primary reason why Putrajaya wants to build the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and the High Speed Rail (HSR) that will connect Singapore with Kuala Lumpur, he noted.
Previously, media reports revealed that the authorities are looking to establish tram services as part of its plan to revitalise Johor Bahru and its city centre.
The Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) had said that tram services could be incorporated into south Johor’s integrated public transportation services, which includes the Rapid Transit Bus and the Rapid Transit System connecting Singapore with the state’s capital.
Abdul Aziz made the aforementioned statements after attending the fourth graduation ceremony of the Netherlands Maritime Institute of Technology (NMIT) at the Persada International Convention Centre.
As the guest of honour, he lauded the school and called the graduates as the future of the maritime sector of Malaysia. He is optimistic that the former students would soon play an important role in the rapidly growing industry, amidst the expansion of the country’s major ports and given the status of the Straits of Malacca as one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
“There is a big shortage of local skilled workforce in the maritime industry. Currently, locals account for 20 percent of the total workforce in the industry, which has been identified by the government as one of the key economic sectors for Malaysia.”
“China’s Belt and Road initiative will expand the role of the maritime industry even further as there are plans for goods to travel via sea from China to Malaysia,” he added.
Image sourced from The Star
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