Kelantan And Terengganu ECRL Project Affected By Floods

The floods last week impacted around 70% of the construction work at sections 1 and 2 of the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL), which spans 82 kilometres from Tunjong here to Setiu in Terengganu. Mohd Azemi Abdullah, construction manager of Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) (sections 1 and 2), stated that the impacted regions entailed preliminary operations such as forest removal and were in low-lying areas.

"The earthworks have been impacted by rainwater (flooding), and we are unable to work," he told reporters yesterday after presenting donations to flood victims at the Bukit Abal Penggawa office. Mohd Azemi, on the other hand, stated that the floods had no effect on the construction activity, including the bridge construction.

"We only have to stop operations if it rains, except for work at a height of more than 2m from the ground level," he explained. According to reports, Kelantan suffered heavy rainfall last week, inundating numerous areas of the state. On December 18, the state Drainage and Irrigation Department recorded 627mm of rainfall intensity in Kampung Wakaf Raja, Bukit Yong near Pasir Puteh, the highest since 1967.