At dawn in the rainforest, a black-and-white Malayan tapir emerges from the undergrowth. "It's a national treasure in Malaysia. Its presence means the habitat remains undisturbed," said Rashidi, an environmental officer with Section 8 of the East Coast Rail Link.

Section 8 spans approximately 31.6 kilometers, including 13 bridges and three tunnels, and passes through primary rainforest in Selangor and the quartz ridge area that has been proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The area is home to rare species such as the Malayan tapir and pangolin, while also serving as an ecological buffer that supports local communities.

To balance construction with conservation, the project team has integrated environmental protection measures throughout the development process. These include mapping sensitive ecological zones, optimizing rail alignment to avoid key habitats, establishing a dedicated environmental management system, installing water quality monitoring equipment, and minimizing the impact of blasting operations. Through these measures, the project aims to maintain ecological integrity while advancing infrastructure development.