CAP Raises Alarm Over ECRL’s Environmental and Wildlife Impact
The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) is very concerned about the impacts of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project. The primary consideration of the Transport Ministry and Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd when planning the ECRL routes is cost, rather than the habitats of wildlife, which are being disturbed to the extent that animals are forced to leave their natural environment.
CAP has previously highlighted that human-wildlife conflict cases have steadily increased, from 7,925 in 2018 to 13,670 in 2023 and 11,341 in 2024. According to Nik Nazmi, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Sustainability, a total of 80,375 human-wildlife conflict incidents were reported along the 665-kilometre ECRL line between 2018 and 2024. It was also reported that the first phase of the ECRL, between Kota Baru and Gombak, passes through several wildlife-friendly forest reserves.
The ecological impact of railways and trains on wildlife and the environment is a significant concern. The ECRL could lead to habitat loss, increased conflict, poaching, and barriers to wildlife migration. The Natural Resources and Environment Sustainability Ministry previously reported that large forest reserves across Terengganu, Pahang, and Selangor will be sacrificed for development, causing substantial environmental damage.
Although an environmental impact assessment, a tool designed to identify and predict the impact of a project, was done for the ECRL, in reality there will be definite felling of trees, subsequent river siltation due to forest loss, risks of flooding and landslides in affected areas and impacts to wildlife habitat.
Railway routes are predominantly located in shrinking wildlife habitats, posing risks to their survival. The clearance of these areas increases the accessibility of endangered species such as Malayan tigers, elephants, and tapirs to poachers and those involved in the illegal wildlife trade. Railway tracks through forests and protected areas obstruct wildlife access to food and water sources, forcing them to encounter fast-moving trains during their natural movements.
Not only is wildlife affected, but the scope and scale of the ECRL have also led to community displacement, with villages in Gombak being forced to relocate.
In the Kemasul Forest Reserve in Temerloh, Pahang, an elephant barrier fence is set to be constructed since the route cuts through several agricultural plantations and elephant habitats to prevent wildlife-train collisions (WTC). However, fencing will impact wildlife movement, particularly elephant migratory routes, which have been deeply ingrained in elephant history for generations.
Regarding the construction of tunnels, it raises the question of whether these structures genuinely facilitate wildlife movement and connectivity across fragmented landscapes. Researcher Gopalasamy Reuben Clements, co-founder of the research group Rimba, who investigated a 70-kilometre stretch of road through the Kenyir Wildlife Corridor on the northeastern edge of Taman Negara, discovered that only 14 of the 42 mammal species living in the surrounding jungles used the viaducts.
He observed that animals, particularly tigers, avoided the viaducts due to a lack of bushes providing cover, highlighting the importance of maintaining forest and vegetation on both sides of the road or railway. If deforestation continues on one side, the entire viaduct will become unusable because animals would have no reason to cross it. Viaducts could become death traps if not regularly patrolled, as his research found that they are popular entry points and camping sites for poachers.
CAP advocates for consultation with local communities, stakeholders, NGOs, wildlife departments, forestry departments, local governments, and railway authorities to address issues and implement solutions to reduce the social and environmental impact of the ECRL’s construction.
Mohideen Abdul Kader
President
Consumers’ Association of Penang
Letter to the Editor, 27 February 2025