Despite S’gor MB statement, ECRL doesn't cut across Kuala Langat forest
The current alignment of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) does not cut across the Kuala Langat (North) forest reserve.
This appears to contradict the Selangor government’s move to consider maintaining a “small area” of the forest as a degazetted area for the ECRL project.
In a comment to Malaysiakini, project owner Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) clarified that the rail line will not travel...
Project owner confirms current alignment doesn't travel through Kuala Langat.
The current alignment of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) does not cut across the Kuala Langat (North) forest reserve.
This appears to contradict the Selangor government’s move to consider maintaining a “small area” of the forest as a degazetted area for the ECRL project.
In a comment to Malaysiakini, project owner Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) clarified that the rail line will not travel through southern Selangor or Kuala Langat.
“The re-implementation of the original alignment for Section C results in the ECRL not travelling via Negeri Sembilan, Putrajaya and the south of Selangor.
“Therefore, the ECRL’s current route via the original alignment will not in any way cut across the Kuala Langat (North) forest reserve,” the company said.
MRL stressed that it was thus “irrelevant” for the forest to remain degazetted for the ECRL.
“The question of whether there is a need to degazette a portion of the forest reserve for the ECRL project is of no relevance.
“The ECRL project will not cut across the forest reserve as it has reverted to the original alignment where it will link Gombak to Port Klang via Serendah in the north of Selangor,” it said.
Section C refers to the Pahang-Selangor portion of the ECRL track.
Back in April, the previous Perikatan Nasional government realigned this portion of the rail line so that it would travel through northern Selangor before terminating at Port Klang. This is also called the BN-era alignment as it was first proposed by the former BN administration.
At the time, the Selangor government had disagreed with the change and insisted on the previous Pakatan Harapan-era alignment.
The previous alignment would have travelled through southern Selangor, cutting through 21.4ha of the Kuala Langat (North) forest reserve.
Even then, MRL had not advocated for any degazettement, preferring instead to apply for permission to use that portion of the protected forest.
Last week, the Selangor government reversed its much-criticised move to degazette 563.7ha of Kuala Langat (North) for a mixed-development project.
In a statement, Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari had said a re-gazettement process would ensue.
However, he noted that some areas would remain degazetted.
“The state government will consider maintaining a small area as a degazetted area for the ECRL project alignment,” he had said, not specifying exactly how large this area would be.
Amirudin further said that 42.1ha would remain as degazetted land as part of a historical compensation to Kampung Orang Asli Busut Baru villagers.
He did not stipulate exactly how much of the forest will be re-gazetted as a permanent forest reserve.
Malaysiakini has contacted Amirudin's office for a response.
