Sungai Buloh-Kajang MRT Line generates 130,000 jobs - Nancy

A total of 130,000 jobs have been generated since the construction of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang Mass Rapid Transit (SBK MRT) line in 2011, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

She also said the project had contributed to the rise in Gross National Income of between RM3 billion and RM4 billion per annum.

"The SBK MRT has also spurred (growth) in new areas such as the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) in Sungai Buloh, Warisan Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur International Financial District and Cochrane," she said at the Dewan Negara sitting today.

Nancy was replying to a question from Senator Datuk Mohd Salim Sharif @ Mohd Sharif on the economic growth and socio-economic impact following the construction of the MRT project along the route.

She said the project had spurred business growth due to better connectivity and access for the people to travel to commercial areas.

For instance, the sales of Sate Kajang Haji Samuri restaurant, located near the Kajang Stadium MRT station, were reported to have increased by 60 per cent since the opening of the SBK MRT service on July 17, Nancy said.

On a supplementary question whether the government had agreed to extend the line to Seremban, the minister said the construction of MRT in other states would depend on a number of factors such as operational density, geographical features as well as passengers' demand and movement flow.

"MRT is not the best public transport mode for certain areas... In this case, the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) will continue to look at the best (transportation) system for other areas in the country via the National Land Public Transport Master Plan," she said.

-- BERNAMA