NEGOTIATIONS on the East Coast Rail Line project are ongoing as they “have yet to meet expectations”, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad today.

The prime minister said the talks between Malaysia and Chinese contractors will continue until an agreement is reached.

“It is not an easy thing to negotiate. But, we will continue until we succeed,” he told reporters after officiating at the World Chinese Economic Forum in Kuala Lumpur.

He did not give a timeline as to when the talks will wrap up.

“I cannot tell, as I do not know the progress.”

Council of Eminent Persons chairman Daim Zainuddin said the negotiations are sensitive in nature, and Malaysia does not want to upset the Chinese firms undertaking the construction of the RM80 billion project.

Daim, who is former finance minister, was appointed as Dr Mahathir’s representative to China in August, to discuss ECRL’s future.

Dr Mahathir also praised the Chinese community for helping develop Malaysia.

“Malaysia fully appreciates the community’s contributions to develop the country. We feel that without them, development would lag behind.”

He said Chinese are dynamic, enabling them to adapt to current trends, and “Malaysia will continue to benefit from the Chinese enterprise”.

Dr Mahathir is out to regain the trust of the community, which had been criticised by former prime minister Najib Razak for supporting the then opposition. – November 9, 2018.