Why weren't ECRL cost questions raised with BN, Dr M asks opposition

PARLIAMENT | Questions regarding the East Coast Rail Link's (ECRL) high cost should have been raised when the previous BN-led administration entered the lopsided deal with China, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir told the Dewan Rakyat it is now "too late" and the government is forced to renegotiate the RM81 billion deal signed with the China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC).

"I am impressed with the wisdom of the party who raised the question. 

"But my question is, why wasn't the question asked before when the agreement was signed?" said Mahathir in response to opposition leader Ismail Sabri during Question Time this morning.

"Why were no questions asked about consultancy costs? The cost to acquire land? Now it is too late because the project is already underway," he said to Ismail's supplementary question on the total cost incurred by the government up to and after the project's suspension in July last year. 

Mahathir also reiterated that renegotiation of the ECRL project is ongoing with China, led by Daim Zainuddin as the government's special envoy.

[More to follow] - Mkini