KLANG VALLEY MASS RAPID TRANSIT LINE (KVMRT) 2

The one of the most essential and biggest transport infrastructure projects of Malaysia

is Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) system where it has been planned, designed

and set out under the Economic Transformation Program as Economic Entry Point Project

(EPP) for Klang Valley National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) to enhance the efficiency in

the integration of urban public transport. There are three construction of KVMRT lines that

planned in the project which are MRT Line 1, 2 and 3.

According to Details of MRT2 project, (2015), MRT 2 also known as Sungai Buloh-

Serdang-Putrajaya link (SSP Line) (para. 2). The cost of implementation of MRT 2 that

allocated by the Government is RM 28 billion where the estimated cost is RM24.9bil or 12%

higher than the KVMRT 1 Line, write M Ali (2013). There is two stages involved in the

construction of MRT Line 2 where the first stage is up to Serdang and second stage is up

Putrajaya. The cost for both stages is almost correspond to that of the MRT Line 1.

If we analyze the comparison between the both public transport, MRT Line 2 and Line

1, it will give an essential information to the public because this project give the best interest

to them in order to experiencing a convenient and conducive environment among other public

transport in future. Moreover, the anecdotal evidence show that this Government mega project

able to boost the economic and will be an attention to other country of this public transport.

So, the primary difference between MRT Line 1 and 2 is the number of passengers where

the estimation show that 20% more people, or 550,000 passengers a day, will traverse through

line 2 as opposed to 460,000 a day for Line 1. In terms of passengers per km, Line 2 is expected

to carry 11,100 passengers per km compared with 10,000 passengers per km for Line 1. The

projection also show that Line 2 will carry 40% more people than Line 3, or the circle line,

upon completion. The reason for the higher ridership is that Line 2 will cut through more
densely populated and lower income areas mentioned by Sidhu (2013, paras. 25-29). From

the statement, our concern is the relevance of budget allocated for the MRT 2. Are the benefit

gained from the construction of MRT 2 will be parallel to the budget allocation or worth to

spend when it is compared to the construction of the MRT Line 1 and its budget allocation?

There is some major milestones involve in the designed timeline for the development

of the MRT Sungai Buloh- Serdang-Putrajaya Line (SSP Line). It begin from public display

on 15 May 2015 and the project expected to complete on second quarter of 2022 as a beginning

of the operation of entire line of KVMRT 2. Currently in 2017, the MASS Rapid Transit (MRT)

Corporation Sdn Bhd who wholly owned by the Government, is awarding contracts worth

RM2.73 billion to the selected companies and also awarding 31 packages worth RM30 billion

for SSP line after the construction work on the SSP line. It has begun on the sidelines of the

launch of the first phase of Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) line by Prime Minister Datuk Seri

Najib Tun Razak on 16 December 2016 (PM Najib Launches SBK MRT, 2016).

In addition, Government believes that this Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT)

2 project will provides lot of advantages to public as well as to countries development. For

instance, it may resolve the worsening traffic congestion especially in Kuala Lumpur where

the traffic is very critical. It is because when people start to use the public transport such as

MRT 2, they will be able to reduce their daily cost of transportation and can help to decrease

the traffic jam of urban area. Moreover, the Managing Director of Gamuda Berhad who is

Project Delivery Partner for KVMRT 2, Datuk Lin Yun Ling mentioned that the Government

is highly committed to implementing KVMRT 2 and 3, as the socio-economic benefits that

could be reaped from the KVMRT far outweigh its costs as compared to the Governments

other development plans (Sidhu (2013, para. 9). It shows that the KVMRT 2 contributes to

the expansion of economy where the efficiency in the integration of public transport will

buildup commercial activity and the good transportation is a catalyst for nation development.
 In conclusion, the Government spends a lot of funds to the mega project of the Sungai

Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya link (SSP Line) as the second KVMRT line where the estimated

completion of this project approximately on second quarter of 2022 as the success of country

initiative of Economic Transformation Program to boost the economic and provide a conducive

environment of daily transportation to public. Therefore, the financial management and

budgetary control is fundamental especially on the Government spending for nation

development activities. It is because the revenues and funds that allocated are the main source

of Government to implementing this kind of development project. Let say, if the funds used

for the construction of the railway is very high compared to the cost to build any other

infrastructure, the act of defilement will occur and also it will affect the funds allocated for the

construction even though a very high cost needed to support and contribute towards the

successful completion of the project.

References
M Ali, S. (2013, May 15). Gamuda, MMC likely to get RM24.9bil KVMRT 2 tunnelling job. The Star.
Retrieved June 02, 2017, from
http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2f2013%2f5%2f15%2fbusiness%2f13112001&sec=busines
s

Details of MRT2 project on public display tomorrow. (2015, May 14). The Star. Retrieved June 02,
2017, from http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2015/05/14/details-of-mrt2-
project-on-public-display-tomorrow/

Sidhu, J. S. (2013, May 18). Will MRT Line 2 go on as planned? Gamuda MD sees timing of approval
as crucial for smooth work flow. The Star. Retrieved June 02, 2017, from
http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2013/05/18/will-mrt-line-2-go-on-as-planned-
gamuda-md-sees-timing-of-approval-as-crucial-for-smooth-work-flow/

PM Najib Launches SBK MRT Phase One. (2016, December 15). Retrieved June 02, 2017, from
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v8/newsindex.php?id=1311918