Malaysia is expected to make a final decision on Friday on whether to proceed with the stalled China-backed East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), after months of false starts and contradictory statements from Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s government on the future of the multibillion-dollar project.
The prime minister’s long-time confidante Daim Zainuddin, acting as special envoy to the leader, is in Beijing to conclude negotiations. He is expected to hold a press conference at 2pm local time. The 688km rail link is a political hot potato for Mahathir, and any firm resolution on Friday is likely to ease growing pressures on his administration to deliver on election promises as its one-year anniversary nears.
