00:00The ECRL project is progressing well and we are very confident that it will be completed
00:17on schedule and it will be operational for passenger starting 2027 and for cargo by 2028.
00:27Building the infrastructure is one key component of it but more importantly and my role as
00:33the Minister of Transport is to ensure how we can fully optimise the asset that we are
00:41building.
00:42This key national infrastructure project costs to the government a big sum of money which
00:48we have to pay in the future.
00:50Therefore, upon completion of this project, it is my role and the Ministry of Transport's
00:55role to ensure that the ECRL will not turn into a white elephant but be fully operational,
01:04fully optimised and fully used by our transportation sector.
01:10And our aim is to turn from road to rail.
01:16Our shift that must happen once the infrastructure is ready is that we must ensure more goods
01:24to be transported by rail instead of by road and we will ensure that heavy vehicles can
01:32be reduced on our roads.
01:34That is the aim.
01:36Why do we need this aim?
01:38Because we need this aim to achieve a public goal.
01:42Our public goal is to ensure that our roads are safer.
01:47By reducing commercial vehicles from the roads, we think that we can make our roads safer
01:53and our people safe from accidents.
01:57This is a public goal that we must achieve as a government.
02:01Therefore, as policy maker and regulator, I am a firm believer in the carrot and stick approach.
02:09Right now, we are enticing you with carrots.
02:14Big corporations like Produa, you are smart because you are the first mover and you have
02:20the first mover advantage.
02:22I am sure you will have a lot of incentives and benefits by moving this today.
02:27That's why we are giving you a lot of carrots.
02:35But let me tell the industries out there and big corporations out there, I want to make
02:41myself very clear, the moment the infrastructure is there, the stick will come if you are not
02:49adopting this.
02:51As I am in charge, I can assure you, the stick will be very big.
02:57Because this is an important role that I must play.
03:01Because we must achieve a public goal.
03:04Why our roads are dangerous, accidents are high, especially in the East Coast region,
03:12especially when you travel along the Karak Highway.
03:15Every time there is a breakdown of commercial vehicles, every time there is an accident
03:19of commercial vehicles, the entire Karak Highway is jammed up.
03:23That's why it's very, very important that we must make this shift to happen, from road
03:28to rail.
03:30So the stick will come, but we want to entice you with your carrots first.
03:36That's why I hope MRL must act as a business-friendly entity, must reach out to more corporations,
03:46more industries, and I hope more heavy industries can look forward and come forward to plan
03:53your logistical shift much early.
03:56And together to boost our motor opportunity to design airplanes.
04:01Mr. Sri, as you said, you are going to Sabah-Sarawak with this link.
04:05Will it increase the economy to Sabah?
04:09First of all, of course, in terms of operating costs, it can be reduced.
04:14Because when, for example, this Pro-2, they use rail to reach Kuantan Airport.
04:21If from Kuantan Airport to go to Sabah-Sarawak, the distance is closer, compared to Poklang.
04:26So of course, the cost of lifting it is cheaper, because the shipping distance is closer.
04:37This helps in terms of reducing costs.
04:41And secondly, with the existence of this transportation circle, it can provide a larger trade exchange
04:49between the islands and Sabah-Sarawak.
04:51It also facilitates the movement of cargo.
04:53That's the most important thing.
04:54Because when the movement of cargo is facilitated, economic development, economic growth can take place.
05:00More investment can be brought into Sabah and Sarawak.
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