KAJANG – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has only just been informed about the move by Japanese companies to not participate in the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail project (KL-SG HSR), and will review reports on the matter before further comment.
Asked about the development today, Anwar said he only knew of it this morning.
“I just received the report this morning. I’ll take a look at it,” he told reporters after lunch and Friday prayers in Desa Pinggiran Putra, here.
Japanese media this morning reported that East Japan Railway Co, as well as other firms, have decided to pull their participation from the request-for-information phase of the project, the deadline for which is January 22.
Kyodo News said the Japanese firms had hoped to utilise the Shinkansen system in the KL-SG HSR, but dropped their plans for involvement after deeming the project risky without the Malaysian government’s financial assistance.
The high-speed rail line, which will reduce travel between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to 90 minutes, was mooted in 2010 under the Datuk Seri Najib Razak administration.
It was postponed in 2018 after a change of government, and its suspension was extended in 2020 after another switch in administration.
On January 1, 2021, the project was formally axed and Malaysia had to pay Singapore S$15 million (RM45.6 million) as abortive costs.
Anwar in December of last year, however, said Putrajaya would proceed with the project if the cost could be lowered. The line was initially slated to cost RM72 billion.
Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, who will be Malaysia’s next Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the end of this month, had also said in a December interview with Singapore’s The Straits Times that he wanted the high-speed rail line revived. – January 12, 2024