MRT Is Not A Bad Project

For the past several weeks, Pandan member of parliament and PKR Vice-President Rafizi Ramli has been misleading the rakyat by spreading false information and figures on the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project.

Rafizi has been attacking the government claiming that the MRT project cost is more than RM100 billion and not RM23 billion.

Is Rafizi correct? Is the MRT project too expensive? Is the MRT a bad project?

Rafizi’s Claims Are Based on Unverified Sources
==================================
Rafizi’s claims that the MRT is too expensinve is based on the cost of South Korea’s Seoul Subway Line 9.

Rafizi had said that the cost of the MRT project was two and a half times more expensive than the Seoul Subway Line 9.

Rafizi had initially claimed that the Seoul line 9 cost US$43 million per kilometre compared to the MRT at US$103 million per kilometre.

However, Barisan Nasional Strategic Communications team previously said that the Seoul project actually cost US$152 million per kilometre and not US$43 million as claimed by Rafizi.

Barisan Nasional Strategic Communication team said Rafizi’s claims are false because his claims are based on unverified sources.

This information is based from an unverified and anonymous WordPress blog post titled “Pedestrian Observation.”

So it is clear that Rafizi did not rely on authorised sources and relied instead on blogs whose information are not official.

Rafizi Relied on Old Information
============================
In order to back up his claim, Rafizi relied on a 16-year-old study, which stated that the cost to construct an underground line can be up to three times than cost of a line that is above ground.

Rafizi cannot use this information because it is old and outdated.

He cannot compare Kuala Lumpur and South Korea because each country has geological differences and different soil conditions which could affect tunnelling costs.

The Line 9 which ran along the south bank of the Han River travelled through compacted soft sand which is less expensive.

Kuala Lumpur on the other hand is more expensive as the soil is made up of hard granite and limestone formations.

The MRT Project is Audited Extensively
=============================
MMC-Gamuda which are the project delivery partners said all processes that were carried out were subjected to two audits annually, by the National Audit Department as well as by an external independent global professional services firm.

It added that the research by international academics had shown that construction costs per kilometre in urban rail vary highly between projects and cities.

Among the reasons for the high variation in construction costs, it said, were differences in project features, labour costs and safety, health and environment issues.

So it is clear that, MRT cost in Kuala Lumpur and South Korea is not a fair comparison.

Rafizi’s Facts are Inconsistent
======================
Rafizi had said that the Line 9 was 50km long but was proven wrong by Barisan Nasional Strategic Communication team which based on verified sources, proved that Line 9 was 37.5km.

And then a week later, Rafizi claimed that the Seoul Line 9 should be considered as 112.5 km long instead of 37.5km.

So which one is it? Rafizi is so inconsistent and it just goes to show that he is plucking facts from the thin air withot verifying the information.

Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that Rafizi Ramli has been misleading the people through false information and figures on the project.

MRT is Not a Private Project
======================
Rafizi also alleged that the project was privatised which means it can just increase ticket price at whatever price it wants.

In response to Rafizi’s claim, Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) denied the allegations, saying it was wholly owned and funded by the government.

Thus this will ensure that the government will charge the most affordable ticket price without burdening the rakyat.

Thus this is proof that Rafizi did not do his homework and just make accusations to gain popularity.

Government Saved RM2 billion From The MRT Project
===========================================
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang project cost RM21 billion and not RM23 billion.

Thus the government managed to save RM2 billion.

This is good news as with the money saved, the government will be able to implement projects for the rakyat such as build schools, roads and houses for the rakyat.

MRT Attracted 210,000 Passengers in The First Week Alone
========================================
In the first week since the first phase of the MRT Line (Sungai Buloh-Kajang) started operations in December, approximately 210,000 passengers have used the service.

“This shows the enthusiasm and excitement with which it has been greeted by the public,” said MRT Corp in a statement.

So it is clear that the MRT project is a good project as it has benefitted the rakyat as it has made their lives easier.

The rakyat are able to go to work much faster, boost productivity and contribute to the economy in a bigger way.

In the next few months, the number of MRT users will surely increase.

's