What was the justification for shelving the ECRL project in August?

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The Pakatan Harapan Government Shelved the East Coast Rail Link Project Due to Excessive Cost

Five months after initially suspending the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, the Cabinet made the decision to terminate the 688km venture. The primary justification provided by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government for this decision was that the rail project was deemed too expensive.
ECRL Project Suspension and Termination

The ECRL project, a significant infrastructure undertaking backed by China, was officially shelved by the PH government in August. This suspension was followed by a formal termination decision made by the Cabinet. The project was intended to connect the eastern and western coasts of peninsular Malaysia, traversing the central mountain range.
Financial Concerns as Justification

The explicit reason cited for shelving and subsequently terminating the ECRL was its substantial cost. The PH government, which came into power following the GE14 elections, expressed concerns that the financial burden of the project was too high for Malaysia. This sentiment was echoed by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who indicated that terminating the contract would necessitate paying billions in compensation.
Ongoing Negotiations with Contractor

Following the termination announcement, there were reports that the Malaysian government was in discussions with the project's Chinese contractor, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). These discussions reportedly centred on the compensation to be paid for the contract's cancellation. While the termination was decided by the Cabinet, the specifics of compensation were not raised during that particular meeting.
Uncertainty and Official Comments

The status of the project remained a subject of speculation, partly due to the Prime Minister's initial claims of ignorance regarding specific details when questioned about an unsubstantiated report suggesting the government was seeking a new contractor. The Chinese embassy, when approached for comment on the ECRL termination, declined to provide any statements on the matter.

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What was the justification for shelving the ECRL project in August?

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