Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Malaysia president Michael Kang said the northern alignment, covering such areas as Bentong and Gombak, is demand-driven.

He said the infrastructure of the towns in the northern alignment will be boosted since it has a denser population, which means more traffic.

“In Bentong, the Karak highway is often heavily congested and almost at full capacity. The ECRL can undertake the transport of passengers more efficiently,” he told FMT.

Kang said the towns in the southern alignment still had some way to go in terms of development, which meant that they would benefit less from the rail link.

He said more roads could be built in these areas and it was more convenient to connect the northern alignment to these towns in the future.

Although the cost of the northern alignment would be higher, he said, developing towns like Bentong and Gombak would result in a booming economic region by drawing investments.

The ECRL’s northern alignment is estimated to cost RM60 billion while the southern alignment costs RM40 billion.

“The population in those areas (Bentong and Gombak) is increasing rapidly, and if you wait another 10 years to build a rail network (connecting them), the cost could be an additional RM40 to RM50 billion,” he said.

Former deputy transport minister Aziz Kaprawi said the northern alignment would be a better transportation option for passengers as it would connect with other train stations.

He said the southern alignment did not take into account the in-depth study made by the Barisan Nasional government and the Land Public Transport Commission.

Aziz justified the additional RM20 billion cost for the northern alignment, saying that the economic activity generated in the towns would justify the expenditure. He said the government should not cut costs “for the sake of doing it”.

“From the economic point of view, when we develop infrastructure, we want quick gains, we want all communities such as the business sectors to immediately enjoy the benefits.

“I don’t understand the Selangor government’s justification in rejecting the northern alignment. I can’t see any reason, what’s important is national interest,” he said.

Yesterday, menteri besar Amirudin Shari said the Selangor government was maintaining its stance in choosing the southern alignment (Hulu Langat-Sepang-Westport) for the ECRL project in the state.

He said the southern alignment would open more economic areas, apart from avoiding disruption to water catchment areas around the Selangor River Basin and land acquisition issues, as well as population relocation in areas involved in the proposed northern alignment.

Pahang MCA chief Hoh Khai Mun said the previous Pakatan Harapan government had disregarded the numerous reports by independent analysts that the northern route would be able to stimulate a better economic result.

He also said the ECRL’s objective was to connect the people and trade routes between the east and west coasts of the peninsula.

“Any decision on alignment must be free of political considerations, and all options and solutions must be based on professional and independent findings,” he said.

The PH administration had realigned the line to the south, shortening it by 40km, resulting in some RM20 billion reduction in costs.