Zafrul: ECRL Will Spur Jobs, Investments Along the East Coast

The government is looking to attract more investments and develop new logistics hubs and industrial parks along the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) route through the Economic Accelerator Project (EAP) initiative.

Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the ECRL is more than just a rail line, describing it as a catalyst for economic growth in the East Coast. Beyond improving connectivity, the project is expected to generate jobs and raise living standards.

“We will continue to monitor and ensure this project delivers maximum benefits to the country,” he said in a social media post.

Tengku Zafrul, who joined Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s delegation to Tianjin, also met with China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC), the project’s main contractor, to discuss progress and upcoming milestones.

He went on to also share that the ECRL had reached 85% completion as of July 2025, with Phase 1 scheduled for handover in Jan 2027. He also highlighted the Genting tunnel’s breakthrough in July, noting that it is the longest rail tunnel in Southeast Asia. 

Tengku Zafrul added that through the EAP, the government is planning new hubs and industrial parks along the route. “This ECRL project is more than just infrastructure; it is an economic driver for the East Coast,” he said.