Cabinet bars ministers from talking about ECRL negotiations

The cabinet has decided that negotiations between Malaysia and China on the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project should be continued privately, according to Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He added that the cabinet has also barred its members from talking about ECRL negotiations.

"The ECRL matter was discussed and the cabinet made a decision to adopt a statement made by the prime minister that the matter would still undergo negotiations," Lim said at a press conference in Putrajaya today. 

He noted that in view of the "sensitivity" of contract discussions, the discussions between the two governments would be conducted "away from the public glare".

"The cabinet also decided that no minister should make any announcement except for the prime minister," he added.

He said that a time frame has been set for the two countries’ negotiations on the project.

"I think this is something normal and should not be widely publicised by the media," he said.

[More to follow]  - Mkini