PAKATAN Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the new government will re-evaluate Chinese investments in Malaysia to determine their viability.

The prime minister-in-waiting said among projects that needed to be reviewed was the US$13 billion (RM51 billion) East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which sees significant Chinese investment.

“We need to study all the things done by the previous government. It’s not just fully about China but a lot of things within the country. As you know, China has lot experience dealing with unequal treaties.

“We need to study it and, if necessary, we will renegotiate the terms. The ECRL and a lot of things, which will be a big burden,” Dr Mahathir said, in reference to huge borrowings that the previous government undertook for the projects.

Dr Mahathir said that he would support China’s belt and road initiative, but would need ensure that it does not infringe on Malaysia’s sovereignty.

Apart from the ECRL, there has been a rise in the number of other Chinese joint developments in recent years, including the Malacca gateway (US$10 billion) and Forest City in Johor (US$100 billion). – May 10, 2018.