KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) -- The Melaka government will apply for a Light Rail Transport (LRT) service to be introduced in Melaka and financed through the recently set up Public Transport Trust Fund, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said.

He said the state also hoped the Express Rail Link (ERL) service which would link the KL International Airport and Seremban under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) could be extended to Melaka.

Ali said the LRT service was needed in Melaka in view of the increased tourist arrivals there.

"Last year 4.6 million tourists visited the state compared to 4 million in 2004 and this year we expect the arrivals to exceed 5 million, " he said during a visit to Bernama headquarters here Friday.

He also hoped that the dual track commuter train service operated by KTM Berhad, which now ended in Seremban, could be extended to Melaka as well.

Ali said fast rail services to Melaka were seen as the transport mode of the future to reduce congestion on the highways and also for onward linkage to Muar, Batu Pahat and Johor Baharu.

"If before, a car journey from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka only took an hour and a half, now it takes two hours or more because of heavy traffic," he said.

Ali said the state would also apply for allocations under the fund to replace old bus stations in the small towns in the state like Jasin, Merlimau, Alor Gajah and Masjid Tanah.

On another matter, Ali, who is also the president of the 4B Youth movement, said 12 volunteers from the organisation would leave for Pakistan tomorrow to help survivors of last October's earthquake there.

The mission, which will be headed by 4B vice president Hashim Suboh, will spend seven days there and visit Islamabad, Balakot, Battagram, Muzafarabat and Murre, the worst-hit areas.

The group will return home on March 24.

-- BERNAMA