We’re open to reviving HSR, but not funded by govt, says Loke
Transport minister Loke Siew Fook says Putrajaya is open to receiving proposals from the private sector.Elill Easwaran - 08 Mar 2023, 2:23pm
www.freemalaysiatoday.com
There is no timeline for reviving the high-speed rail project as the previous bilateral agreement between Singapore and Malaysia was terminated, according to the transport minister. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: The unity government is open to reviving the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) project as long as it is not funded by Putrajaya, says transport minister Loke Siew Fook.
Loke said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had instructed him to discuss the matter, adding that the transport ministry was open to receiving proposals from the private sector.
“The prime minister has said that we are open to any proposals, as long as they are private investments. As such, there is no decision yet on reviving the HSR, but we are not stopping it.
“There are no definite proposals yet. There is no timeline as the bilateral agreement with Singapore was terminated by the previous government.
“There is no urgency on reaching any milestones and, as such, we are open to any mechanism or model,” he told reporters after an event here.
Last month, Singapore said it was willing to consider proposals from Malaysia to revive the HSR programme on a “clean slate”.
Singapore’s second minister for foreign affairs, Maliki Osman, said the city-state stands ready to look at “any proposal” Malaysia might have.
Asked whether Anwar had raised the issue during his one-day official visit to Singapore on Jan 30, Maliki said he was unable to recall.
“But we have articulated that if there is any interest, please do give us a proposal,” he said.
Malaysia and Singapore had initially signed a bilateral agreement in 2016 for the 350km rail project. It was supposed to be completed in 2026 and cut travel time between Kuala Lumpur and the republic to 90 minutes.
The railway project was axed on Jan 1, 2021, by the Perikatan Nasional-led government. Malaysia ended up having to pay Singapore RM320 million in compensation as part of its obligation under the bilateral agreement.
It was later reported that Singapore could not accept the then government’s proposal to remove the HSR’s systems supplier and network operator that would have been accountable to both countries.
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