SEREMBAN: The Election Commission should probe if an announcement by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng that the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) may run through Negri Sembilan during the on-going campaign for Rantau constitute an election offence, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
The Barisan Nasional candidate said as far as he knew, Lim's announcement was an offence.
"A lot has been said about the ECRL, but to suggest now that it may run through Negri Sembilan when it was not under the original plan is an offence.
"I never knew this because it was never mentioned before. So again, I hope the EC will probe this," said Mohamad, who is also known as Tok Mat, to reporters on Saturday (April 6).
During a ceramah in Kuala Sawah on Friday (April 5) night, Lim said if negotiations with the Chinese government was successful and the project was allowed to continue, it could run through Negri Sembilan.
According to him, the project could be revived if negotiations between Council of Eminent Persons chairman Tun Daim Zainuddin and the Chinese government went well and the government could cut the cost down to RM36bil.
"And I say Negri Sembilan because the route will change, and this is good for the state," Lim added.
He, however, refused to divulge more about his veiled announcement.
Mohamad, in his reaction, also said the project cost would certainly be reduced if it ran through the state.
"In any project, the cost to acquire land is most expensive.
"So it makes sense to run through Negri as per square feet of land in Seremban costs RM40 against almost RM800 in KL," he added.
The Rantau by-election on April 13 sees a four-way contest between Mohamad, Pakatan Harapan's Dr S. Streram and independent candidates Mohd Nor Yassin and R. Malarvihzi.
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