THAILAND, October 2025 —Malaysia remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthening the national transportation network, with a strong focus on rail infrastructure. This direction, underscored by Transport Minister YB Anthony Loke Siew Fook in his recent budget address, reflects the government’s drive to enhance connectivity and spur economic growth across the nation.

The Minister highlighted several key projects advancing under the national transport plan. In Penang, the country’s first Light Rail Transit (LRT) line outside the Klang Valley the Mutiara Line (formerly known as the Penang LRT) is taking shape. Spanning about 29.5 kilometres with 21 stations, the line will link Reclamation Island A (Silicon Island) through George Town (Komtar) to Penang Sentral in Butterworth. The federal government has approved a budget ceiling of RM 16.8 billion for the project, with the final cost to be determined through the tender process.

Meanwhile, the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) a 665-kilometre corridor connecting Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor continues to progress on schedule. Featuring 20 stations (10 for passengers and 10 for combined passenger and freight services), the project will be completed in phases: the Kota Bharu–Gombak segment by December 2026 with operations beginning January 2027, followed by the Gombak–Port Klang segment in late 2027. The ECRL is expected to carry up to 24.6 million tonnes of cargo annually, supporting balanced regional development and reducing road congestion.

Additionally, the Pasir Mas–Rantau Panjang rail upgrade project valued at RM 264 million has been approved and is slated to begin in 2026 with a three-year completion period. The project will reactivate cross-border rail connectivity with Thailand, strengthening trade and tourism along the Sungai Golok corridor.

Minister Loke noted that major projects, such as the Penang LRT, underwent rigorous value-management assessments to ensure maximum public benefit and cost efficiency. At the same time, the government is tightening road safety and regulatory measures including mandatory speed limiters for buses and lorries, stricter controls on overloaded vehicles, and harsher penalties for driving under the influence to support a shift towards safer and more sustainable mobility.

Collectively, these rail expansion and safety enhancement efforts align with the “Malaysia Madani” vision promoting inclusive connectivity, raising safety standards and broadening economic opportunity for all Malaysians. The ongoing infrastructure investments demonstrate a strategic push to modernise and future-proof the nation’s transport backbone.

Source: Kaohoon International