PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) has formalised Supplementary Agreement 7 (SA7) with China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC), the main contractor for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, to implement Section D — the extension connecting the final station at Jalan Kastam, Port Klang, to both Westports and Northport.
MRL CEO Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said the agreement signifies that CCCC will carry out the construction of this crucial final segment.
“Further announcements will follow regarding this development,” he said at the RHB-MRL 360 Degree ESG Financial Ecosystem event today.
SA7 covers a 25-kilometre stretch from Jalan Kastam to Westports and Northport, and will feature dual-track construction — both meter gauge and standard gauge — to support seamless integration with the existing Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) system and the new ECRL line.
East Coast Rail Link.
Darwis emphasised that completing Section D is vital to fully connecting the ECRL from Kota Bharu, Kelantan, to Port Klang, Selangor.
“This extension ensures the land bridge connection between Kuantan Port and Port Klang is fully realised, linking the east and west coasts efficiently,” he added.
The SA7 is part of the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) contract signed in November 2016. Transport Minister Anthony Loke had previously announced the agreement in April this year.
Meanwhile, RHB Bank chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Badri Mohd Zahir noted that MRL has become the first government-linked company in Malaysia to implement a sustainable financial value chain transition roadmap. As part of this effort, proceeds from MRL’s green sukuk issuance are placed into RHB’s ESG deposits while awaiting disbursement for ECRL works.
“This ensures idle funds remain productive and contribute to national decarbonisation efforts through a transparent, circular, and sustainable financial model,” he said.
RHB’s ESG deposits will support projects aligned with national priorities such as renewable energy, clean transport, low-carbon infrastructure, and social inclusion. Financing is guided by RHB’s ESG guidelines, Bank Negara Malaysia’s climate taxonomy, and the ASEAN taxonomy for sustainable finance.
Earlier this year, MRL issued a green SDG sukuk, setting a national record with the lowest credit spread ever achieved for a government-guaranteed infrastructure issuance — a strong indicator of investor confidence in both MRL and the ECRL project.
