By Amar Shah Mohsen
SHAH ALAM, July 10 — The Kita Selangor Rail project is still in the feasibility study stage, with key details such as development phases yet to be finalised, the Selangor State Legislative Assembly was told.
State executive councillor for investment, trade and mobility Ng Sze Han said while the proposal will see the project divided into two main phases, the first from Labu (Negeri Sembilan) to Puncak Alam and the second from Puncak Alam to Sabak Bernam, this is not final.
“We have not begun implementation, it will take some time,” he told the state assembly here today.
“It doesn’t mean we have to start with Phase 1. There is even the possibility that the project can be divided into three or four phases. We can also start construction with Phase 2. We’re not sure yet.
“We are still waiting for the study to be completed and presented by the consultant appointed by the state government,” he said in his wind-up on a report tabled by the Special Select Committee on Water Management, Agriculture, Infrastructure and Mobility (Infragro) regarding the proposed rail project.
Ng’s was responding to a question from Permatang assemblyman Nurul Syazwani Noh, who during her debate urged the state to prioritise construction of the rail line in northern Selangor instead of starting with Phase 1, which focuses on the southern area.
Plans for a new railway across the Selangor coast were mooted as part of the state Pakatan Harapan election manifesto ahead of the Selangor polls in August 2023.
The initial proposal said the line will run from Klang to Sabak. During the tabling of the 2025 Selangor State Budget last November, Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the line would extend into Negeri Sembilan, with spur lines connecting key locations like Westport and Klang.
[caption id="attachment_406290" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
State executive councillor for investment, trade, and mobility Ng Sze Han speaks at the Selangor Twin Accelerator Programme 2025 at the Asia School of Business, Kuala Lumpur, on July 3, 2025. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Ng said the feasibility study is in its final stage, adding the State Economic Planning Unit (Upen) is identifying countries that can be benchmarks for best financial practices in public transport and rail system management.
“The initial proposal for the rail development has been presented to the Transport Ministry in December 2024, and they welcome our plan, but there are several matters that must be fine-tuned by the state, including the most viable financing and implementation methods,” he said, adding that the state will conduct a follow-up presentation to the ministry once the feasibility study is completed.
Earlier, when tabling the committee’s report, Infragro member and Pelabuhan Klang assemblyman Azmizam Zaman Huri said the committee held two briefings on the rail project — the first on April 30 by Upen’s macro and privatisation section, and the second on May 14 by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) and Railway Assets Corporation (RAC).
Azmizam said that after the briefings, the committee supported the construction of the Kita Selangor Rail and Port Klang cargo route, to be developed by RAC and KTMB, as these projects could contribute to the state’s economic development and enhance connectivity.
However, it found an urgent need for the state to review its funding model for the project and urged better coordination between KTMB, RAC and Upen to avoid leakages due to unnecessary alignments, especially around Labu, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and Banting.
“The committee also found the need for a comprehensive policy and plan to lower the number of cargo lorries on the roads, with greater emphasis on promoting rail transport for cargo movement, especially in the Klang Valley and Selangor, which see high levels of logistics activity,” Azmizam added.
