HISTORY has been made. After over 6 years since the Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak announced the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Project when tabling the 10th Malaysia Plan in Parliament, the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) Line was officially launched at the Tun Razak Exchange Station on 17 July 2017.

The MRT Project is part of the government’s National Transformation Programme to build an integrated public transportation system in the Greater Kuala Lumpur.

The full operations official launch of the SBK Line was held at the Tun Razak Exchange Station signifying the full completion of this Project. Previously, the first half of the SBK Line alignment comprising of 12 elevated stations and covering a distance of 20km was launched in December 2016. With this launch, another 19 stations totalling to 31 stations over 51km are fully operational.

Also present during the ceremony were Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers, senior government officials and the representatives of parties and organisations involved in the Project. The Prime Minister’s wife, Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor, was also present.

Receiving the guests at the Tun Razak Exchange Station were Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) Chairman Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa who is also Chief Secretary to the Government, MRT Corp Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Sri Shahril Mokhtar and MRT Corp leadership team. With them were representatives from MMC-Gamuda KVMRT (PDP) Sdn Bhd.

MRT Corp is the developer and project owner of the MRT Project while MMC-Gamuda is the Project Delivery Partner for the SBK Line.

Upon launching the SBK Line, Najib announced that there would be complimentary services for the MRT service between the Muzium Negara Station to Kajang MRT Station for the remainder of the day when service commences at 4.00 pm. He also announced that effective 18 July 2017 until 31 August 2017, all costs for rail services in the Klang Valley will be at a discount of 50%.

In his speech, Najib said that the success of the MRT Project shall be an example to other mega projects around the world as it was delivered quicker than the projected timeline and below the initial estimated cost.

During the event, MRT Corp was presented with a Certificate of Recognition by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). The certificate was to confirm that MRT Corp had successfully implemented the 10 anti-corruption initiatives under the company’s corporate integrity pledge.

The certificate was presented by MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner Dato’ Azam Baki to Shahril, witnessed by the Prime Minister.

After all formalities had ended at TRX Station, the Prime Minister and the rest of the guests then boarded MRT trains heading to the Stadium Kajang Station, where they alighted and proceeded to Kajang Stadium for the second part of the launch event.

Here, he was greeted by over 20,000 people comprising of employees of other companies and organisations involved in the MRT Project. Government officials and members of the public were also present to celebrate the milestone that the SBK Line had achieved in Malaysia’s history.

Najib joined the crowd for lunch and was served the famous dish that is available in Kajang – satay.

The Prime Minister then also presented certificates to 52 participants of the MRT Young Entrepreneurs Programme II (MYEP II). This programme is a collaboration between Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad (PUNB) and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), which provided hands-on training to young Bumiputera contractors and equipped them with the knowledge and skills to become entrepreneurs in the construction or railway industries.

As part of the programme, the participants either individually or in partnerships, have formed 25 companies which will be awarded a total of 50 contracts by the various Work Package Contractors of the second MRT line, the MRT Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) Line. The total worth of contracts will be a sum of RM 250 million.

To end formalities for the day, a presentation of MyRapid Touch ‘N Go cards were given to recipients from the B40 household income category.