Pahang Umno Youth chief Shahar Abdullah has disputed Perkasa's accusation that nationalism had taken a back seat in favour of China during the breaking ground of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.

"Pahang Umno Youth denies claims by Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali that the ECRL breaking ground ceremony, officiated by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, did not hold on to the principles of nationalism, was unpatriotic and pro-China in nature.

"For Syed Hassan's information, the prime minister and Malaysia Rail Link chairperson spoke in Bahasa Malaysia, but owing to our culture as Muslims who respect guests, we also had translation services (for those speaking Chinese)," he said...