Dr M: Daim has certain abilities needed as negotiator with China

PARLIAMENT | Former Council of Eminent Persons chairperson Daim Zainuddin has certain abilities the government needs for its negotiator with China on the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, according to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat this morning, Mahathir said the chosen person must be someone who was acceptable to the party being negotiated with, in this case, the government of China.

"We also have certain restrictions when deciding on the person to act as a negotiator.

"Because of that, we had decided to appoint someone else (who was not part of the government) whom we view as being qualified and capable to negotiate with China," he said during the question time session this morning.

"This is why we appointed Tun Daim," said Mahathir in response to Ismail Mohamed Said (BN-Kuala Krau) who asked why Daim was appointed to negotiate with Beijing rather than Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Mahathir further reiterated that efforts to renegotiate the ECRL project were still ongoing and an outcome could be expected soon.

"If this effort to renegotiate is successful, the government is confident the ECRL project can be continued at an appropriate scale on par with the benefits generated for the people and saving Malaysians from the burden of high debts," he said.

Earlier this month, Mahathir had reiterated the possibility of proceeding with the ECRL project, which had been suspended since July last year, on condition the price is renegotiated and agreed to by Malaysia and China.

In July last year, it was reported that Mahathir had sent Daim as a special envoy to meetwith Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang ahead of his (Mahathir's) own first official visit to Beijing. - Mkini