INSIGHT – Malaysia’s Negotiating Power with China

 

Insight and analysis on the trend of Malaysia’s negotiating power with China based on media intelligence methodology.

 

China was often criticised in the media for conducting debt-trap diplomacy to fulfil its Belt and Road Initiative. Malaysia was no exception as the nation borrowed from China to develop mega-projects during Najib Razak’s administration; notably the ECRL project.

 

After Pakatan Harapan took over the government, Malaysia managed to negotiate with China and reduced the cost for ECRL project by RM21.5 billion. How Malaysia able to do so?