KUANTAN, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail is of the view that the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) fares are reasonable and affordable for low-income earners, including the B40 group.
He said the charges were set based on a dynamic pricing mechanism and were not substantially different from bus fares.
"If you compare the fares, flights are more expensive," he said after the appreciation ceremony for the completion of the Pahang Railway Academy (ARP) training programme, PLKI-ECRL 2025/26 session, at the Yayasan Pahang Complex here today.
He added that, based on social media feedback, the response to the fares had generally been positive, although a small number of people held differing views.
On possible fare discounts or concessions for Pahang natives, he said the matter would need to be discussed with Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL), as it was beyond his jurisdiction.
Wan Rosdy said any such proposal would require careful study, including its financial implications, before a decision is made.
On another matter, he said the state government will continue funding technical training for state natives to meet skilled manpower demand for ECRL operations, in line with its proposal to extend the service to Rompin and Lipis.
He said the first cohort of 47 trainees, who underwent a year-long programme in China, have completed their studies and been hired by MRL.
He said the initiative was carried out through collaboration between the state government, MRL, University College Yayasan Pahang (UCYP) and Yayasan Pahang to ensure a trained workforce was in place before operations begin.
-- BERNAMA