Visit our Covid-19 microsite for the latest coronavirus news, analysis and updates


Follow the latest updates of the outbreak on our timeline.

Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) operator Malaysia Rail Link has asked some of its employees from Wuhan to work from home due to the Covid-19 coronavirus epidemic.

Malaysia Rail Link CEO Darwis Abdul Razak said that this will not affect construction. The majority of the 13 Wuhan-based employees are management-level staff members.

The company employs 1,000 workers from mainland China. Approximately 800 workers did not travel to the country during its new year celebrations.

A total of 200 Chinese workers returned to Malaysia after the Chinese New Year period. Razak said that they have now resumed work after undergoing a mandatory self-quarantine period.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Malaysia has currently banned people from Hubei province from crossing its borders.

The epidemic has killed 2,012 people so far and infected more than 75,000 people worldwide. Malaysia has recorded 22 confirmed cases of the virus.

The East Coast Rail Link forms part of China’s belt and road initiative. It will connect Port Klang on the Straits of Malacca to Pengkalan Kubor in Malaysia’s north-eastern peninsula.

Last April, Malaysia and China signed a revised agreement to resume the construction of the suspended East Coast Rail Link (ECRL).

In 2018, Malaysia postponed construction of the rail link due to its high costs and renegotiated with the Chinese authorities to reduce the scale of the project.

After negotiations, the countries reduced the project cost investment to MYR44bn ($10.7bn).

Last month, major banking groups, including Goldman Sachs, UBS, and Credit Suisse, asked their Hong Kong employees to work from home if they have recently travelled from China.

Railway Technology Excellence Awards - Have you nominated?

Nominations are now open for the prestigious Railway Technology Excellence Awards - one of the industry's most recognised programmes celebrating innovation, leadership, and impact. This is your chance to showcase your achievements, highlight industry advancements, and gain global recognition. Don't miss the opportunity to be honoured among the best - submit your nomination today!

Nominate Now