Dr M jolts China’s Belt-Road plan

Working agreement: Dr Mahathir telling Bai Tian he supports China’s Belt and Road Initiative and rail connectivity during their meeting on May 24.

THE unexpected cancellation of the planned Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad last week has jolted China’s plan to view Malaysia as a strategic centre under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for Asean.

Kuala Lumpur’s expressed intention to renegotiate with Beijing the China-financed RM55bil East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which is being constructed by a Chinese company, has also caused discomfort among investors.