In his speech while launching the Ex-Rahmat Development Project at Lumut, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir mentioned about a railway link to the coastal town. He said the connection will be good for the overall development of the Manjong district.
When probed further, Dr. Zambry told reporters that it was just a suggestion he made to Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Har who is also Lumut Member of Parliament.
“We strongly feel that Lumut should have a railway link to either Batu Gajah or Ipoh, which ever is more convenient. The main thrust of the connection is to transport cargo to and from the Lumut Port.
“We have big plans for Lumut Port and it could be realised that much faster with a railway link,” Dr. Zambry told reporters after officiating the closing of a motivational seminar for level two Lumut area Tamil primary schools pupils at Seri Manjong, Saturday.
Historically, the first railway line in Malaysia was built to connect Kuala Sepetang or known during the colonial rule as Port Weld, to Taiping to export tin from the mines of the town of eternal peace and Kamunting.
The same could also be said of the link between Tapah Road and Teluk Intan or previously known as Teluk Anson where there was a port situated at the mouth of Sungai Perak.
However, presently, both the Kuala Sepetang – Taiping, and Tapah Road – Teluk Intan railway lines are no longer in use due to changing economic climates.
Lumut on the other hand, the Chief Minister said, has enormous potential to become a major port in the country because of its features. And the railway link could realise its potentials.
“You could find in the annals of the British India Company that they described Lumut as the best natural port east of Suez. Its waters are deep, and very well protected from the elements,” Dr. Zambry said.
The Chief Minister also said that apart from cargo, trains plying the link could also carry passengers to the area.
Earlier on, Dr. Zambry officiated the closing of a motivational seminar for level two Lumut area Tamil primary schools pupils at Seri Manjong, Saturday.
Co-organised by local NGOs and the Darul Ridzuan Empowerment Foundation (YBUDR), the event involved six schools with about 120 children.
