While Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan now admits China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) was banned by the World Bank, he argues that the blacklisting has no bearing on Malaysia awarding it the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL).

"The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project is not a road or a bridge project and is not funded by the World Bank. Therefore the World Bank sanction does not apply to CCCC's participation in the ECRL project," he clarified in a statement.

Furthermore, the minister noted that the company had shown that it can do good work.