ECRL workers should seek claims from China firm, says Guan Eng

PARLIAMENT | Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said workers who reportedly lost their jobs after Putrajaya pulled the brakes on the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project should claim compensation from the project's main contractor, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).

"As we are aware, these workers were not hired by the federal government. They were hired by CCCC.

"So in terms of compensation, they must claim it from the company," Lim said in response to a supplementary question from Ismail Muttalib (BN-Maran) in the Dewan Rakyat today.

"Nevertheless, when a final decision has been made, the government will be ready to offer our assistance if there is a need to do so," he added.

Lim noted that although there were also employees from China who had been affected by the job cuts, the Malaysian government would only be able to assist local workers.

Ismail had asked the government to state its plans to assist some 2,000 workers who he said had lost their jobs following the government's move earlier last month to suspend ECRL's construction.

Citing inside sources, Singapore-based media outlet Channel News Asia reported last month that nearly half of 2,250 workers employed by CCCC had lost their jobs, as the company did not know when the project would resume.

Meanwhile, some of the employees from China had reportedly returned home on long leave.

Lim also responded to Ismail's supplementary question on compensation to be paid for lands acquired for the project.

"We do not see any problems arising because the government will comply with legal provisions under the Land Acquisition Act 1960," he said.

He earlier reiterated the government's explanation that the ECRL project had been put on hold as its actual estimated cost of RM81 billion would have to be reduced significantly for the project to be financially viable.

This is in contrast to the RM55 billion price tag stated by the BN government previously. -Mkini