PETALING JAYA, June 6 (Sin Chew Daily) — The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project may be reverted to the original alignment proposed by the Barisan Nasional government then, says Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong.

In an interview with Sin Chew Daily, Wee said the government is still assessing the alignment pending a final decision.

The government is looking into the national economy and the interest of the people when assessing the ECRL project, he said.

"I need more time to look into the planning and brief various parties in details, he added.

Financial weekly The Edge has reported quoting sources from Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) that a proposal was made to revive the original alignment linking Klang Valley and Port Klang.

Sources also said the proposal was discussed in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin recently.

Sources said Wee made the proposal. 

"We know the proposal is still being discussed at the moment," the source was quoted as saying.

The Pakatan Harapan-led government had put ECRL on hold after taking over the federal government on May 9, 2018.

Malaysia and China reached a consensus to restart the project in April last year after months of discussion.

Under the Pakatan Harapan government, the cost of the project was slashed from RM65.5 billion to RM44 billion, a reduction of RM21.5 billion or 32.8%.

The ECRL project was downsized with Gombak and Bentong stations scrapped. The rail line ended in Port Klang and not Gombak.

Former transport minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai criticized the Pakatan Harapan government's move to exclude Bentong in the new ECRL alignment.

The Barisan Nasional government had proposed the ECRL linking Port Klang to Kota Bharu in four hours but the Pakatan Harapan government modified the alignment to six hours.

The 640km ECRL project was divided into Section A (Kota Bharu – Dungun), Section B (Dungun – Mentakab) and Section C (Mentakab – Port Klang). The number of stations was reduced from 24 to 20 by the Pakatan Harapan government.