MRT Corp denied the Pandan MP’s claim that Prime Minister Najib Razak had said that the construction of Phase One of the line, that is from Sungai Buloh to Semantan, cost RM21 billion.

“Rafizi’s statement is totally incorrect. The RM21 billion figure that was mentioned in the speech by the prime minister was the cost for both Phase One and Phase Two of the 51km SBK Line,” MRT Corp said in a statement released last night.

The response from MRT Corp came on the heels of the PKR vice-president saying he was standing by his claim that the cost of the MRT could reach RM100 billion.

Claiming that Najib “had confirmed his fears” during his speech at the launch of the MRT service on Thursday, Rafizi said people failed to understand that the RM21 billion figure is only for Phase One of the MRT, covering 21km and 12 stations.

“It is clear that people do not understand the details of the 141km MRT project, which was first announced by Najib in 2010.

“In coming statements, I will show that the entire 141km MRT project – which comprises three lines, including one built underground – will surely cost beyond RM100 billion,” Rafizi said in his statement.

MRT Corp said, “Phase One comprises the 21km elevated section of the SBK Line from Sungai Buloh to the Semantan Portal.

“Phase Two includes the 9.5km underground section from the Semantan Portal to the Maluri Portal, and the 20.5km southern elevated section from the Maluri Portal to Kajang,”  adding that the RM21 billion price tag was arrived at based on the completion of the procurement process and the adoption of a stringent mechanism to control variation orders and claims.

On Thursday, Najib lauded MRT Corp for completing Phase One of the MRT project within its target delivery date and also saving the government RM2 billion ringgit in the process.