Inter-city train service passengers to increase by 12.5 percent

Bernama (30/6/08): The number of passengers for the inter-city train service is expected to increase by 12.5 percent a year, and cargo load for the goods train service by 5.6 percent a year, within 30 years upon completion of the double-track railway project.

Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said this was based on a study by AGN Research Associates, which found that the project was a strategic action to increase capacity and meet the country's transportation needs in view of the anticipated increase in traffic volume from 2008 until 2037.

"The study by AGN encompasses economic, engineering and environmental aspects, and other matters related to train service," he said in response to a question from Roslan Shaharum (PAS-Bukit Gantang) in the Dewan Rakyat Monday.

He said the study on the effectiveness of the proposed dual track railway project was conducted by two consultant companies -- KL Consult Associates Sdn Bhd for the Seremban-Tanjung Pagar sector and Gabungan Jurubina Sdn Bhd for the Ipoh-Padang Besar sector.

He said based on the study, the increase in Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB)'s passengers and goods was due to the increase in income elasticity of demand for travel, from 1.076 to 1.15 percent, as well as as a five-fold increase in the per capita income of residents in Peninsular Malaysia in 2037.

The study also found that the increase in population and economic activities between 2008 and 2037 would increase the volume of goods and number of passengers, he added.

To meet the increase, Ong said, the government had allocated RM792 million, which included RM100 million for the purchase of five sets of electric multiple units (EMU) with each containing four coaches, RM68 million for the purchase of 24 passenger coaches and RM624 million for 13 electric train sets (ETS), with each set having six coaches.

Lajim says 'fate' among reasons for train derailments

The Sun (26/5/08): Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukin listed "fate" as one of the main reasons for train derailments in the counrty in his answer to a supplementary question.

Other reasons he cited were human error, moisture and stagnant water on tracks in his answer to Fong Kui Lun (DAP-Bukit Bintang) who also asked about the rate of train accidents in the country.

"Train accidents do not only happen in Malaysia but in Japan, China and other sophisticated countries. However, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) has its engineers, architects and we conduct inspections on our tracks almost every week," Lajim said.

He said the government is spending some RM16.935 billion on the double-tracking project running from Ipoh to Padang Besar and Seremban Gemas.

"Based on a re-census last October, some 1,607 squatter houses need to be relocated," Lajim said in his answer to an original question by Dr Mohamed Hayati Othman (PAS-Pendang) on the double-tracking railway up-grading project.

Hayati also asked whether the the cost of the double-tracking project had doubled because the Seremban–Gemas track was first given to Erkon and India and then cancelled, postponed and given again to the company with the condition that Scomi gets one billion worth of projects in India.

"Has the cost doubled because of projects reciprocated to companies under the Prime Minister’s ambit (referring to Kamaluddin Abdullah – Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's son who owns Scomi)?" Mohamed Hayati asked.

Lajim said: "We gave it to Erkon because we have a government to government negotiation where traders from our country gets contracts to build roads in India."

"These negotiations have nothing to do with the Prime Minister’s ambit and so on. Whoever it is that can work, if he is the Prime Minister’s child or the Opposition’s child, if he can work towards getting contracts overseas, what’s wrong?

"There is nothing wrong with that," Lajim quipped.

RM16.9bil on double tracking

The Star (27/5/08): Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin said KTM spent a total of RM16.935bil to upgrade the railroads to double tracking.

In his reply to Dr Mohamed Hayati Othman (PAS - Pendang), he said the Ipoh-Padang Besar double tracking cost RM12.485bil and the double tracking from Seremban-Gemas cost RM3.45bil.

A total of 1,521 squatters were relocated due to the upgrading of rail tracks, he said.

There were 394 of them from Perak, 565 of them from Penang, 557 of them from Kedah, five from Perlis, 57 from Negeri Sembilan, 27 from Malacca and two from Johor.

Azmi is the new PAC chairperson

Malaysiakini (26/5/08): Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) and Kamaruddin Jaffar (PAS-Tumpat) called for the committee to reflect the presence of political parties in Parliament - in particular, PAS, which has more representatives than MCA and MIC.

...Mohamed Hayati had also queried regarding the rise in the project cost from RM8 billion to RM16 billion as a result of projects given in reciprocation to companies closely linked to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The session was disrupted briefly as some backbenchers objected to the picture painted by the PAS representative that the company awarded the project was under the 'armpit' (ketiak) of the prime minister. (Full report)

Project awarded based on potential not influence

Bernama (26/5/08): Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin said Monday the electrified double-track railway project was awarded to a company with potential and not based on the comapany's influence.

Lajim said the company Ircon (International Limited) was also picked based on the success of (local) companies securing contracts to build highways in India.

"What is wrong if someone, be they the children of the Prime Minister, or children of the opposition, can strive to get contracts overseas. It is not wrong," he said during the question-and-answer session of the Dewan Rakyat here Monday.

Lajim said this in reply to a question by Dr Mohamed Hayati Othman (PAS-Pendang) regarding the rise in the project cost from RM8 billion to RM16 billion as a result of projects given in reciprocation to companies closely linked to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The session was disrupted briefly as some backbenchers objected to the picture painted by the PAS representative that the company awarded the project was under the 'armpit' (ketiak) of the prime minister.

Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Pandikar Amin Mulia then called on members of parliament not to use inappropriate words while the House was in session.

Earlier in his reply, Lajim said the total cost of the project was RM 16.935 billion that is RM12.485 billion for the Ipoh-Padang Besar stretch and RM3.45 billion for the Seremban-Gemas length while the number of squatters re-settled for both phases till October 2007 was 1,607 families.