KOTA BHARU, Nov 8 — The Kelantan government has set up a coordinating committee to make the selection of local contractors for the implementation of the East Coast Rail Link Project (ECRL) in the state.
State Works, Infrastructure, Transport and Utilities Committee chairman Datuk Azami Mohd Nor said the scope and jurisdiction of the committee would include coordinating the distribution of ECRL work to ensure 40 per cent of the contracts are awarded to local contractors.
The committee will examine and verify proposals by suppliers and contractors selected to carry out ECRL contract work in the state, he said in response to a question from Abdul Azziz Kadir (PAS-Jelawat) during the State Legislative Assembly sitting today.
Azami also told the State Assembly that the new alignment for the project would affect four districts, namely Kota Bharu, Machang, Bachok and Pasir Puteh.
It involves acquisition of 1,561 lots of land in the four districts, he added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said the state government would continue to give priority to the construction of houses for the second generation settlers of the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) and the South Kelantan Development Authority (Kesedar).
This would involve the construction of more than 1,000 houses in Bandar Baharu Chiku and Datuk Bentara in Gua Musang, he said.
To a question from Mohd Rodzi Jaafar (PAS-Gaal), Mohd Amar said the state government had plans to develop Rantau Panjang, Pasir Puteh, Gua Musang and Jeli to boost economy of the affected towns.
