Cable theft threatening to derail ECRL schedule, says MRL boss
Darwis Abdul Razak says CCCC could incur losses of RM1.25 million per day if it fails to complete the project on time
The ECRL project was 83.38% complete as of May, on track to meet its target deadline of December 2026. (Bernama pic)
BEIJING: Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) has raised concerns over cases of cable theft which it said could disrupt the planning and operational timeline of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project – now at a critical phase ahead of its targeted completion in December 2026.
MRL CEO Darwis Abdul Razak said several cases of theft had been detected at specific locations along the ECRL track, which spans Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and Selangor.
“These incidents not only raise the cost of repairs and replacements but also risk delaying the train testing and commissioning schedule, which is expected to begin in June 2026,” he said in an interview with the Malaysian media delegation in Beijing.
With operations slated to begin in 2027, he said if China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) failed to complete the project on time, the conglomerate could incur losses of RM1.25 million per day.
MRL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Minister of Finance (Incorporated), is the owner of the mega infrastructure project, while CCCC is the main contractor.
As the project owner, MRL has lodged police reports on the incidents and is stepping up security measures, including the appointment of a dedicated security firm to monitor and safeguard ECRL assets on the ground, he said.
“We are also counting on continued cooperation from the authorities and local communities to help curb this crime. This is a national project that we must protect together,” said Darwis.
He also plans to meet with home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and the police chiefs of the affected states to seek their cooperation and solutions to the issue.
The project was 83.38% complete as of May, on track to meet its target deadline of December 2026.
Darwis said 2025 marked the most critical phase of the project, with the installation of communication, information, and signalling systems underway at the Kota SAS (Sultan Ahmad Shah) station, and to proceed simultaneously at other stations soon.
However, since the installation of the systems began in March, the ECRL has been plagued by cable thieves.
Aside from Kota SAS, cases of theft involving cables and transformer units have been reported in areas such as Paya Besar/Gambang, Cherating, and Kuantan Port City in Pahang; Chukai, Dungun, and Kemasik in Terengganu; and Pasir Puteh in Kelantan.
In other developments, Darwis said the first two electric multiple unit train sets, along with two electric locomotives for freight operations manufactured by CRRC Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co Ltd, were expected to arrive in Malaysia by the end of the year, with subsequent sets arriving in stages from April 2026.
“System and train testing and commissioning are scheduled to begin in June 2026. This is a crucial phase that will determine our readiness to begin operations,” he said.
He added that 38 tunnels had been bored along the project’s alignment, with the final two – Serendah Tunnel 2 and the Genting Twin Tunnel – expected to be completed by the end of this month and early next month, respectively.
Darwis also confirmed that all land acquisition work for the main ECRL track from Kota Bharu, Kelantan, to Port Klang, Selangor, had been fully completed, thanks to cooperation from the respective state governments.
“Only a few additional lots are needed to accommodate the electrification system, such as for Tenaga Nasional Bhd, but we’ve secured 100% of the land acquisition for the main track,” he said.
He added that ECRL’s cargo services had received encouraging interest from logistics industry players, with early commitments totalling between 800,000 and one million tonnes for the first year of operations, which is scheduled to begin in early 2027.
The 665km ECRL project is the largest infrastructure project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Malaysia, and is expected to enhance transport connectivity and catalyse economic growth along Peninsular Malaysia’s east coast.
MRL CEO Darwis Abdul Razak said several cases of theft had been detected at specific locations along the ECRL track, which spans Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and Selangor.
“These incidents not only raise the cost of repairs and replacements but also risk delaying the train testing and commissioning schedule, which is expected to begin in June 2026,” he said in an interview with the Malaysian media delegation in Beijing.
With operations slated to begin in 2027, he said if China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) failed to complete the project on time, the conglomerate could incur losses of RM1.25 million per day.
MRL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Minister of Finance (Incorporated), is the owner of the mega infrastructure project, while CCCC is the main contractor.
As the project owner, MRL has lodged police reports on the incidents and is stepping up security measures, including the appointment of a dedicated security firm to monitor and safeguard ECRL assets on the ground, he said.
“We are also counting on continued cooperation from the authorities and local communities to help curb this crime. This is a national project that we must protect together,” said Darwis.
He also plans to meet with home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and the police chiefs of the affected states to seek their cooperation and solutions to the issue.
The project was 83.38% complete as of May, on track to meet its target deadline of December 2026.
Darwis said 2025 marked the most critical phase of the project, with the installation of communication, information, and signalling systems underway at the Kota SAS (Sultan Ahmad Shah) station, and to proceed simultaneously at other stations soon.
However, since the installation of the systems began in March, the ECRL has been plagued by cable thieves.
Aside from Kota SAS, cases of theft involving cables and transformer units have been reported in areas such as Paya Besar/Gambang, Cherating, and Kuantan Port City in Pahang; Chukai, Dungun, and Kemasik in Terengganu; and Pasir Puteh in Kelantan.
In other developments, Darwis said the first two electric multiple unit train sets, along with two electric locomotives for freight operations manufactured by CRRC Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co Ltd, were expected to arrive in Malaysia by the end of the year, with subsequent sets arriving in stages from April 2026.
“System and train testing and commissioning are scheduled to begin in June 2026. This is a crucial phase that will determine our readiness to begin operations,” he said.
He added that 38 tunnels had been bored along the project’s alignment, with the final two – Serendah Tunnel 2 and the Genting Twin Tunnel – expected to be completed by the end of this month and early next month, respectively.
Darwis also confirmed that all land acquisition work for the main ECRL track from Kota Bharu, Kelantan, to Port Klang, Selangor, had been fully completed, thanks to cooperation from the respective state governments.
“Only a few additional lots are needed to accommodate the electrification system, such as for Tenaga Nasional Bhd, but we’ve secured 100% of the land acquisition for the main track,” he said.
He added that ECRL’s cargo services had received encouraging interest from logistics industry players, with early commitments totalling between 800,000 and one million tonnes for the first year of operations, which is scheduled to begin in early 2027.
The 665km ECRL project is the largest infrastructure project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Malaysia, and is expected to enhance transport connectivity and catalyse economic growth along Peninsular Malaysia’s east coast.
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