YOURSAY | 'Why the secrecy of these projects, which are supposed to be handled by the respective ministries...?'

Liow, why gov't borrowing RM55b if East Coast Rail costs less?

The Analyser: Why is Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua quibbling about the cost of the project when the project itself is questionable?

What proof is there that this grandiose scheme is a viable economic undertaking? When the existing rail link to Kota Bharu was regarded so 'highly' that it was closed down, one has to wonder what value a new rail link will have.

What proof is there that it has top priority in a nation where so much infrastructure has become rundown or is non-existent?

Drngsc: Firstly, is an 'Eastern corridor' viable? Secondly, at RM55 billion, is this not a severe high cost - at RM90 million per kilometre?

Who is pocketing the extreme amount of extra money? 1MDB? Our future generations are going to have to pay for these grandiose overpriced projects.

Roguekiller: I have a number of questions:

1. It is a wonder as to why the minister of transport is not in charge of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project? In a similar related case, the procurement of those naval vessels came under the purview of the PM and not the defence minister.

2. Why is open tender not administered in these highly costly projects? Why the secrecy of these projects, which are supposed to be handled by the respective ministries but now come under the PM?

3. What is "the real cost" of the ECRL? What is the "financing framework agreement" that boosted its cost to RM55 billion?

4. This is so suspicious, yet Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai had the cheek to claim these projects are "very transparent". I wonder if he honestly knew what he was talking about.

No open tender, respective ministries not dealing with their respective responsibilities, but the PM has overall control - Liow, did someone put words into your mouth?

No wonder the Chinese Malaysians have no respect for and trust in you. If I were you, I would relinquish all my appointments.

Donplaypuks: The minister who had allegedly lied about tear gas not being fired by the FRU (Federal Reserve Unit) at Tung Shin Hospital during Bersih 2 is as clueless as ever.

Liow has no access to the financials. He is just another apple polisher and accomplice to Najib's railway.

Mosquitobrain: At first look, 'Tung Shin' Liow is not speaking the truth. At second look, he is still not speaking the truth.

At third look, we know, he is allegedly telling lies. He is helping Malaysian Official 1 (MO1) to tell half-truths to the Chinese. Why don't you just continue to play dumb and let your deputy do the talking?

Anonymous 2287241438070669: Give any nerd a chance, he or she can emulate the PM in signing billions in agreements using government assets as collaterals.

I, too, can go to the bank and borrow millions if the government gives me the collaterals. But can we manage the repayments?

Like 1MDB now, they have never mentioned how they intend to manage the debt and the alleged fraud.

SSDhaliwal: The bigger question is how much of the allegedly extra billions would possibly be used to bail out 1MDB and buy the election?

It is indeed suspicious that all these dubious and exorbitant deals - and handled directly by the PM and his department, instead of the relevant ministries - which in this case is the Transport Ministry headed by the gutless MCA president.

Senior: I agree there is something is fishy here. When we pay China back in 20 years' time, what is the interest after the seven-year interest-free period?

But why should they care, as they wouldn't be around by then. The rest of us will have to deal with it.

Jonah 2: There is no way out for Malaysia. The country is financially dead and the people deserve what they get for not having the guts to die in battle since the election system is hopelessly rigged.

No-brainer: This new ECRL mega project will be a greater scandal than the present 1MDB.

The agreements signed between the China contractors and our government will be put under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), like what they had done to the agreements this wretched Umno government had with the highway concessionaires.

Eventually, Malaysia will have to depend on China for survival, and it will be at its mercy.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.