The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is a major infrastructure project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aimed at enhancing connectivity and bringing more balanced growth to Malaysia. A team of young professionals from both China and Malaysia, known as the Youth Rapid Response Teams, is working tirelessly on construction sites stretching over 600 kilometers. Zhang Tan, leader of the first Youth Rapid Response Team, and his colleague Deng Youzhi, a technical director, were recently seen inspecting the beam yard. The beam yard plays a crucial role in the railway construction as supplying the required, high-quality beams efficiently is essential for track-laying and erecting work to be achieved on schedule. Built by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), the ECRL is expected to greatly enhance connectivity and bring more balanced growth to Malaysia upon its completion. The 10 Youth Rapid Response Teams comprising 223 people, of which 185 people are aged 35 and under, are working at important sites such as tunnels, culverts, bridges, and roadbeds and have made great contributions to the construction of the ECRL. This team includes Teng De Wei, a young Malaysian engineer who joined the ECRL after graduating from the University of Malaya. After working on the project for two years, Teng believes that the completion of the project will bring more convenient transportation and opportunities to the local people. The project construction work has been accelerated and is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
