The Madani Government will seek an audience with the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, to provide further clarification on the progress of the LRT3 Shah Alam Line following the ruler’s concerns over the project's delays, cost and implementation.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the government respected the Sultan’s remarks and would arrange a meeting to explain the current status of the project in greater detail.

Speaking to reporters after a charity dinner in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday night, Loke said the government acknowledged the concerns raised and was committed to ensuring that His Royal Highness receives a comprehensive briefing on the project’s development.

Earlier this week, Sultan Sharafuddin highlighted that the LRT3 project was suspended for more than 18 months after the change of the Federal Government in 2018. The project subsequently experienced an additional 19-month delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic until 2021.

The Sultan also pointed out that several changes were made during the delay period, including reducing the size of stations, cutting the number of train carriages and cancelling five proposed stations along the alignment.

His Royal Highness emphasised that the LRT3 Shah Alam Line was never intended as a prestige project but rather a critical public transportation initiative designed to improve mobility and enhance the well-being of the people.

In a separate development, Loke announced that the Ministry of Transport has increased public transport capacity to assist voters travelling home for the 16th Johor State Election on July 11.

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) has added more Electric Train Service (ETS) trips between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru to accommodate higher travel demand.

The additional services will also benefit passengers returning from Singapore, allowing easier connections to destinations such as Segamat, Labis and other parts of Johor. Voters travelling from the northern region are also expected to benefit from the expanded ETS schedule.

Loke expressed hope that the increased public transport services would encourage more eligible voters to return home and participate in the state election.

The 16th Johor State Election will feature 172 candidates contesting all 56 state seats, with early voting scheduled for July 7 and polling day on July 11.

What I Learned

The government's decision to personally brief the Sultan of Selangor demonstrates the importance of maintaining transparency and accountability in major infrastructure projects such as the LRT3 Shah Alam Line. The project has faced significant setbacks due to policy changes and the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in design revisions and delays that have attracted public attention. At the same time, the Ministry of Transport is taking proactive steps to support democratic participation by increasing ETS train services, making it easier for Malaysians across the country and from Singapore to return to Johor to vote in the upcoming state election.