Najib satisfied with progress of MRT project

Datuk Seri Najib Razak is satisfied with the progress of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project and trusts that the first line can begin operating as scheduled at the end of next year.

The prime minister also noted that the MRT currently has 19 trains and would receive another 35 by the middle of next year.

"What we have planned all this while appears to be materialising which means our target for the first MRT line to begin operating at the end of next year could be achieved," he told reporters during a visit to the MRT train depot at Sungai Buloh near here Wednesday.

Najib further noted that the MRT project had created ample employment opportunities for the local community and "an element of technology transfer" among the participating companies.

"We see a lot of employment opportunites for our people who have the qualification. Being involved in the development of the MRT should be a valuable experience for them," he said.

Najib arrived at 5.25pm and taken to the depot in Sungai Buloh which was built by Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) in July 2011.

The visit was his first to the depot and the fourth to the Klang Valley MRT project after his two visits to the Cochrane Launch Shaft and one to the Tun Razak Exchange MRT Station.

During his visit this time, the prime minister was taken to the Train Stock Maintenance Workshop where he was shown MRT coaches that had been assembled and were being tested.

Throughout the visit, Najib was briefed by MRT Corp project director for the Sungai Buloh-Kajang route, Marcus Karakashian.

Also present at the event were Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Ali Hamsa who is also MRT Corp chairman, Land Public Transport Commission chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar and other MRT senior officials.

Representatives of project implementors from MMC Gamuda KVMRT Sdn Bhd, Siemens and SMH Rail Sdn Bhd were also there.

Meanwhile, MRT Corp said in a statement that the Sungai Buloh MRT Depot would be the biggest in Southeast Asia and would serve the two lines, MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang and MRT Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya Buloh.

The statement also said as of Sept 30, the overall progress of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang or SBK line was at 72.25 percent.

The SBK route between Sungai Buloh and Semantan Station would begin operating in December 2016 while the second, from Semantan Station to Kajang Station, in July 2017.