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KUALA LUMPUR: A group of experts wants Putrajaya to publish the feasibility study and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project before further negotiations.
The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) welcomed the government’s intention to reduce the cost of the project, but asked the government to provide the public with a feasibility study that comprehensively shows that the proposed realignment would reduce costs and it would save time.
It responded to a statement from Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong on Tuesday that the government was seeking another renegotiation on the ECRL alignment, saying it “has the potential to reduce project costs and reduce the amount of time required.”
In a statement today, Tricia Yeoh, CEO of IDEAS said: “Large infrastructure projects like ECRL require a significant amount of public funds.
“The government must ensure that decisions around these projects are based on achieving good value for money and high quality service delivery.”
Internationally accepted transparency standards require the government to publish information such as estimated budget, acquisition of land and properties, price of materials, environmental impact and mitigation measures.
In 2019, the government of Pakatan Harapan (PH) had renegotiated to reduce the cost of the project, which saw a reduction of RM21.5 billion and a significant realignment of the ECRL.
However, PH did not complete the EIA required by the Environmental Quality Act of 1974, nor did it publish the feasibility study.
Yeoh said: “These studies should also be published as part of a robust assurance process. Failure to disclose them undermines evidence-based decision making.
“This is a perfect opportunity for the current government to demonstrate higher standards of transparency than the two previous administrations,” he said, adding that it would also allow the ruling Perikatan Nasional government to set a good example throughout the region.
