KenaSaman.com

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has defended its RM40bil Klang Valley My Rapid Transit (MRT) construction project, claiming that it was aimed at alleviating future road and traffic congestion in Klang Valley.

Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Ahmad Maslan said Monday that the Klang Valley has less than 2km of rail per million residents, which was less than five percent of other big cities.

“Major cities such as London, New York, Seoul, Hong Kong and Singapore have an urban rail system more than 40km per million residents.

“We are trying to solve traffic problems as the numbers of vehicles is increasing by 500,000 yearly,” he told Khalid Abdul Samad (PAS-Shah Alam) during Question Time.

Khalid had asked the government to state the extent whether the proposed MRT project would ease traffic congestion in Klang Valley.

Ahmad Maslan said that only 17 percent of residents living in Klang Valley had access to public transport compared to other big cities that enjoyed more than 50% access to public transport.

“We have been studying the project since 2006, based on our studies, once it is completed in 2016, more than 50% Malaysians will benefit from the project,” he said.

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