THE government expects to bring an end soon to the impasse over the East Coast Rail Link project agreement, said Daim Zainuddin.

“We are almost there. Just need to tighten the screws here and there,” Daim told The Star Online today.

The former finance minister said it was difficult to renegotiate the agreement, which Malaysia claims is lopsided.

“They are very understanding. It is how you approach them and they understand our problem,” said Daim of the Chinese stakeholders.

 The 688km rail project, linking Pengkalan Kubor to Port Klang, has been on hold since last July after Pakatan Harapan took over the government.

Daim said the government was confident that a final agreement was possible soon.

He will brief Dr Mahathir Mohamad on the negotiations before the prime minister visits China for a One Belt, One Road initiative next month.

“We have been friends for a long time and trading for centuries. We know them and have a long history of ties. We are the first country in Asean to establish relations with China.

“Those days they were poor and needed our help. But now, they are the second largest economy and soon will be the first. Like it or not, they are there,” said Daim. – March 31, 2019.