SHAH ALAM, July 14 — The rail industry hub in Serendah is set to catalyse new economic growth in Hulu Selangor when the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is completed in 2027, said Kuala Kubu Bharu assemblyman Pang Sock Tao.
She said the hub is expected to provide opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Hulu Selangor, including her constituency, to join the rail supply chain in related rail maintenance, parts replacement, and services segments.
She added that Serendah is strategically located between Port Klang and the East Coast, and could emerge as the nation’s rail industry centre.
“We want economic spillovers from the ECRL project to be enjoyed by SMEs, especially in Hulu Selangor… Not just by making use of Serendah’s strategic location, but by ensuring this development creates more opportunities for local traders to grow,” she said on Media Selangor’s SKOP podcast released on July 5.
Pang said the industry must be supported by a workforce that meets market needs, adding that the current main challenge is not the lack of jobs, but a mismatch between jobseekers’ capabilities and industry needs.
“Residents say it’s hard to get work, while the industry faces a lack of skilled workers… That is why I have suggested that technical and vocational education and training (TVET) be empowered according to industry needs, to produce a workforce that fulfils market demands. This effort must involve the state government, ministries, and industry players,” she added.
‘Ecotourism must involve the community’
Besides industrial development, Pang said Kuala Kubu Bharu has great potential as an ecotourism destination that could drive the local economy, with its invaluable natural assets that must be conserved and harnessed sustainably.
“Kuala Kubu Bharu isn’t just an area on a map, but also this state’s green lung. Sungai Selangor supplies water to Klang Valley residents, while 51 per cent of Hulu Selangor has permanent reserve forest cover,” she explained.
She added that development of the ecotourism segment there must benefit the local community, including by helping white water rafting operators in Kampung Orang Asli Pertak gain guidance and licence to ensure their businesses are legal.
“We bring government officers to provide guidance so they can get the licences they need. With these licences, they could not only operate more systematically, but also improve their facilities and grow their businesses,” she said.
Pang expressed hope that more local residents who have interest and expertise may receive guidance and help the ecotourism segment grow into a sustainable revenue generator.
Making ecotourism a main Kuala Kubu Bharu economic driver was contained in her manifesto during the May 2024 by-election.
During the by-election, Pang obtained 14,000 votes with a 3,869-ballot majority, and defended the seat DAP has held since the 13th general election in 2013.
