KUALA LUMPUR, 20 Mar: The cost of building an underground pedestrian tunnel in the MRT project, estimated to cost RM340 million, linking KL Sentral and the National Museum is considered irrational.
This is because the country can build 8,000 low cost housing units at RM42,000 per unit with the cost.
The Member of Parliament for Kuala Terengganu, Raja Datuk Kamarul Baharin Raja Ahmad, said that the construction of the 100 metre underground tunnel only increases safety risks, and it is incompatible with Malaysia’s climate when compared to other countries such as Japan and the United States.
“At the same price (RM340 million), we can build 8,000 low-cost hoses with a budget of about RM42,000 each.
“We need low-cost housing. So, we cannot compare it with developed countries because we are a developing country,” he said in a press conference today.
In comparison, the construction cost of a four-lane expressway, with a distance of 100 metres, only costs RM1.2 million, while two lanes with the same distance only costs RM600,000.
Raja Kamarul Baharin also proposed for the construction bridge to be continued, which only costs RM50 million for the same distance and still provides comfort to users.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Shah Alam, Khalid Samad, was also not satisfied with the MRT Corp Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid, who said that the tunnel was good for the people despite being expensive.
“We are not satisfied with the MRT Corp CEO. In our opinion, the statement cannot be accepted,” he said.