Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today unveiled the details of the renegotiated Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.

Apart from saving RM21.5 billion after the price tag was slashed from RM66.5 billion to RM44 billion, Putrajaya also gained several other concessions from the Beijing-owned China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).

The following are the key points of the renegotiated deal:

CCCC agrees to refund part of the RM3.1 billion advance payment for the Phase 2 double tracking and northern extension under the original contract. RM1billion will be refunded within a month of April 12 (when the new deal was inked). The balance will be refunded within three months after the deduction of abortive works.
CCCC agrees to increase local participation in the civil works for the ECRL project from 30 percent under the original deal to 40 percent.
CCCC agrees to form a 50 percent joint venture with Malaysia Rail Link (MRL) to operate and maintain the ECRL. This means CCCC would bear 50 percent of the risk should the project run into trouble.
Malaysia was initially to take an 85 percent loan or RM56.7 billion from China-Exim Bank to finance the project. It has signed for a loan of RM39.1 billion, but another RM17.6 billion has not been signed. The loan can now be substantially reduced and is being negotiated. This will save the government on repayment, interest cost and fees.

Mahathir's full speech on the ECRL is as follows:

The Pakatan Harapan government’s main objection to the original ECRL project was premised on the way and speed at which the original contract was negotiated and signed in 2016.

It was an unjustified, hefty lump sum price which lacked clarity in terms of technical specifications, price and, by extension, economic justification.

As the original contract was agreed on a government basis, the Harapan government, in negotiating an improved deal for the ECRL, had to work within the constraints of the existing agreements.

The Harapan government was faced with the choice to either renegotiate or pay termination costs of about RM21.78 billion, with nothing to show for it.

As such, we chose to go back to the negotiation table and call for a more equitable deal, whereby the needs of the Malaysian people would be prioritised.

After long and protracted negotiations between the governments of Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China, both parties reached a mutually beneficial agreement – the improved ECRL deal.

At the federal government, it is our belief that the ECRL will serve as a stimulus for economic growth and development, especially in east coast states, regardless of the fact that these states are under opposition control.

This improved project will provide freight and passenger transportation, attract investments along the railway corridor as well as generate significant employment opportunities.

As announced on April 12, MRL and CCCC signed a supplementary agreement (SA) which paved the way for the resumption of the ECRL project.

In addition, both parties agreed to form a joint-venture company to manage, operate and maintain the ECRL rail network.

Supplementary agreement to the EPCC contract

The SA covers Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) of the ECRL at a reduced cost of RM44 billion.

This is a significant reduction of RM21.5 billion or 32.8 percent, from its original cost of RM65.5 billion. The improved ECRL will cost RM68.7 million per km compared with RM95.5 million per km under the original agreement.

Key technical aspects

1. Standard gauge and double tracking of the ECRL is maintained.

2. 640km is inclusive of spur lines.

3. The ECRL will run through 20 stations, among others, from Kota Bahru to Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Mentakab and proceed to Jelebu, Bangi/Kajang, Putrajaya Sentral and onto Port Klang. Therefore, it will now pass through five states and the federal territories of Putrajaya from the previous four states, allowing more states to partake in the economic benefits of the improved deal.

4. The new southern alignment will also provide a direct land link from Kuantan Port to Port Klang, serving as a land bridge between the two ports.

5. The new alignment will leverage the existing KLIA Express Rail Link (ERL) as well as the future MRT2 Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya Line with an interchange in Putrajaya Sentral. This will improve passenger connectivity to other parts of the peninsula’s west coast, as well as provide a direct link to KLIA. This is a significant improvement to the single interchange via LRT in Integrated Transportation Terminal (ITT) Gombak as per the previous arrangement.

6. Passengers on existing KTM Komuter and ETS Services from the southern part of the peninsula will interchange with the ECRL at the planned ECRL Bangi/Kajang station.

7. Importantly, the new alignment also prioritises cultural, heritage and environmental factors by avoiding the Klang Gates Quartz Ridge in Gombak Selangor, the longest pure quartz dyke in the world.

8. The ECRL’s New Completion Date: Dec 31, 2026, extended from original June 30, 2024.

Operation and maintenance

CCCC has agreed to participate in the operation and maintenance of the ECRL through a joint venture company to be set up (MRL 50 percent and CCCC 50 percent).

CCCC will provide technical support and share the operational risk after the project’s completion.

This arrangement will ease the financial burden on Malaysia, which previously was to bear the entire cost of the operations and maintenance.

In addition, Malaysia can also leverage CCCC’s expertise in operations and maintenance, hence improving the long-term viability of the project.

We are confident that CCCC’s involvement will attract and spur investment along the rail link corridor, especially from China.

Local participation

In looking towards improving our local infrastructure sector, the percentage of local participation has now been increased to 40 percent of civil works, from the previous 30 percent in the original deal.

Partial refund of advance payment paid to CCCC

CCCC has agreed to refund part of the RM3.1 billion advance payment paid for Phase 2, double tracking and the northern extension under the original contract.

RM500 million will be refunded within a week from April 12 and a further RM500 million within a month from April 12, 2019, for a total of RM1 billion.

The balance will be settled within three months after deductions for verified claims due to abortive works, suspension and cancellation of the northern extension.

Substantially reduced financial commitments

Under the original ECRL agreement, the total project cost was RM66.7 billion. The loan amount from China-Exim Bank, at 85 percent of the project cost, would have amounted to RM56.7 billion.

Under the previous government, the current amount signed for with Exim Bank is RM39.1 billion for Phase 1 alone.

The balance of the RM17.6 billion for Phase 2 and the Northern Extension, luckily, was yet to be signed.

With the improved ECRL at RM44 billion, the loan amount from Exim Bank will be reduced substantially.

The reduced amount is still being negotiated with Exim Bank and we envisage that this will result in lessening the financial burden of the government in terms of the principal repayment amount, total interest costs and other fees.

Conclusion

The improved ECRL is in line with the Harapan government’s manifesto to review and revisit all megaprojects signed by the previous administration, and its aim to even out the economic playing field between the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia.

The conclusion of the negotiations, which began in July 2018, has resulted in substantial savings for the country, which was the ultimate aim of the Harapan administration when it initiated the negotiation process with China.

We hope that the state governments of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang will also seize the opportunities provided by the ECRL rail network and leverage the development and growth that will result from the construction of the ECRL.

The Harapan government would like to stress that its objection to the ECRL was always regarding the high cost of the original agreement inked by the BN administration, and not against the ECRL per se.

We are grateful to the Chinese government for recognising the Malaysian government’s financial position and predicament and agreeing to come to the negotiating table.

The government of Malaysia would also like to thank the negotiating team led by Daim Zainuddin, and the various working groups for their tireless efforts on the SA and operations and maintenance joint venture, thus enabling the ECRL to proceed at a far lower cost, for the ultimate benefit of all Malaysians.

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