Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has clarified that the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project deal was not inked with the condition that China returns fugitive businessperson Jho Low.

“This has nothing to do with Mr Jho Low. But of course, we seek the Chinese government (with regard to Jho Low),” he told a press conference in Putrajaya this morning.

However, Mahathir said, Putrajaya had taken advantage of the deal to press Beijing to import more palm oil from Malaysia.