KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 — The government will review the cost of the Mass Rapid Transit Line 3 (MRT3) project, with the aim of lowering it to RM45 billion from the current RM50 billion estimate, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.

"Originally, the project was estimated to cost RM68 billion in 2018 (when it was announced).

"Last year, the estimate was lowered to RM50 billion when the procurement process began,” said Anwar, who is the finance minister, during the tabling of Budget 2023.

He added that the latest exercise wants to ensure bang for the government’s buck, and that he is confident the construction costs for the MRT3 project can be reduced to below RM45 billion.

"This effort is in line with the unity government’s pledge to reduce procurement costs and redistribute whatever costs we have saved to the society,” he added.

In the previous Budget 2023 tabled by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s administration, the Ministry of Finance said MRT3, a rail network in Kuala Lumpur spanning a length of 50.8km, is expected to create 600,000 jobs and complete the city’s rail network with the convenience of public transport users in mind.