Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has assured that safeguards for bumiputera businesses, including negotiated tenders, will remain in place.

Asked today about a request for 20 percent of the civil works for the East Coast Rail Link megaproject to be reserved for bumiputera contractors, he said Pakatan Harapan had yet to arrive at a decision.

"No, we haven’t fixed a quota yet, but they (bumiputera contractors) are asking that 20 percent should go to them.

"I would like to explain that the old system of giving some special treatment is still there, it goes on. Including negotiated tender, that will still go on," he said.

Mahathir was speaking at a press conference after chairing a Bersatu supreme council meeting at the party’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya on Tuesday.