KUALA LUMPUR (June 24): To the uninitiated, the 665km-long East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is the infrastructure project that has put its main contractor, China state-linked China Communications Construction Co Ltd (CCCC) in the Malaysian spotlight.
However, the ECRL, while CCCC’s largest project in the country, doesn’t represent the full extent of its presence. As the world’s fourth-largest construction firm by revenue, CCCC has had a significant footprint in Malaysia since the 1990s, primarily through its subsidiary China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd (CHEC).
China Communications Construction (ECRL) Sdn Bhd (CCCECRL), the ECRL’s engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning (EPCC) contractor, is itself a unit of CHEC, which ultimately reports to CCCC.
Headquartered in Beijing, CCCC manages projects in over 150 countries by delegating to its subsidiaries. In Malaysia, this responsibility mainly falls to CHEC, including for the ECRL, though other CCCC subsidiaries are also exploring opportunities in the country.
Recently concluded projects under CHEC include a 8km-long, 275kV (kilovolt) overwater power transmission line from Prai to Pulau Pinang for Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA), which was completed in three years by November 2024, according to its fact sheet.
In Sabah, the jetty extension of Sapangar Bay Oil Terminal was completed in three years by September 2023, for client WCT Construction Sdn Bhd, a unit of WCT Holdings Bhd (KL:WCT).
Other projects CHEC was involved in include: the Damansara-Shah Alam Highway (DASH) and the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Highway (SUKE), owned by the Prolintast Infra Business Trust (KL:PLINTAS); Malaysia Marine Heavy and Engineering Bhd’s (KL:MHB) Dry Dock 3 in Johor; and land reclamation for Westports Holdings Bhd (KL:WPRTS).
One ongoing project is the first phase of reclamation works at the Kuala Linggi Port in Melaka for Linggi Base Sdn Bhd, covering 620 acres, with completion targeted by June 2027.
It is also currently involved in the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link between Malaysia and Singapore for both Malaysia Rapid Transit System Sdn Bhd and RTS Operations Pte Ltd. This involves installation of an elevation section of a bridge in Malaysia, as well as track works in Singapore.
In Sarawak, it is constructing the 12.4km, eight-station Red Line of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) for Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd, comprising a 6.8km elevated track and a 5.6km land track, scheduled for completion by December next year.
It is also conducting a 28km portion highway — part of the Sarawak Second Trunk Road — from Sebuyau to Lingga, Samarahan and Sri Aman, Sarawak, for Sarawak’s Works Department, with delivery by February 2026. In total, it has three packages in the trunk road under its belt, including the Sungai Sarawak bridge completed last March.
On top of that, it had done work involving the LRT Ampang Line, the MRT1, the Second Penang Bridge, the Kuantan Port, the Terengganu Silica Bulk Jetty, the Pan Borneo Highway in Sarawak, the Sutera Harbour Resort in Sabah, and reclamation works in Pulau Indah in Selangor.
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