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Malaysia's ECRL: Can Beijing-backed megaproject deliver on local development?
In the second of a four-part series on the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), CNA looks at China’s involvement in the megaproject and its ability to spur investments as well as create jobs for locals.
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KUANTAN/KUALA LUMPUR: Sitting on his motorcycle at the edge of a sprawling East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) construction site in Gebeng, Pahang, a Malaysian excavator operator took a drag on his cigarette.
He looked on as heavy trucks rumbled into the construction site, the future location of the Kuantan Port ECRL station.
“I’m thankful that it has given me a job near to where I live, but I don’t know if the project benefits locals as a whole,” said the worker, who declined to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
“It seems like the project is using more workers from China.”
