According to The Star, China is looking ever more likely to win its bid to develop the KL-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR). Eyeing the project for a long time now, it is reported that China state-owned conglomerates have been paving the way for the move by making various acquisitions in Malaysia amounting up to RM25 billion in just the last four months.
The KL-Singapore HSR project is expected to be launched in a matter of one or two years’ time. The RM70 billion project is said to economically boost activities in all areas where stations will be built. Existing plans show that the line will begin in Bandar Malaysia, and will have stations in Seremban, Ayer Keroh, Muar, Batu Pahat and Nusajaya. The line ends in Jurong East, Singapore.
China is the undoubtedly one of the world’s fastest-growing developers of high speed rail systems, and naturally, wants a piece of the pie. However, MAG Technical managing director, Goh Bok Yen, who is also a well-known transportation planning consultant, said that it is still too early to say who will win the project.
“On the investment and political front, China has made inroads and many think it is the frontrunner for the HSR project. But it is premature to say who will get it now as the joint venture company to own and manage the HSR project has not been set up yet,” Goh explained. Malaysian and Singaporean governments are expected to deliver a commercial model and procurement approach for the HSR project this year.
Speaking to the publication, Goh suggested that China may also be ahead of its competitors because it was one of the first organisations that pledged to fully finance the project, initially estimated to cost some RM40 billion. The expert added that China has existing experience with Malaysia, having worked on the KTM and LRT lines here, as well as supplying 80% of its trains, coaches and necessary equipment.
However, the publication claims that sources who have spoken to rail consultants in Singapore say that the Lion City isn’t too keen about China’s ambitions. It is said that over the past years, China has failed to establish as good a reputation as Japan has, for example, at building high speed trains. Also, memories of the Wenzhou crash in 2011 that killed 40 people and injured 192 others still appear fresh.
“China started rail modernisation and high speed train development only about 15 years ago. But its speed of development and implementation is incredibly high. Competitors can say anything about China, but look at this country, it has far more tracks and rail systems than all other countries combined in the world,” Goh adds.
“If you look at the number of accidents involved, China may be high. But if you look at the accidents per million train-km, it may not be high and is lower than many other countries,” he says. He concludes by saying that safety cannot be compromised, and that Malaysia will need to set up a team of experts to look into all systems. “It also needs an independent assessment team to give professional advice to the government, without political and sentiment considerations.”
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Sell all the land along the rail link to China then blame the communist mentality for easy inroads into local cultures.Fix the ktm & lrt technical glitches first la.Slow train also many problems still want to wast money for super fast one.
all so call local prince has no objection for their earth sold to cina man…LOL..bully own people but bend to the communist..isnt this a joke?
Gov fully fund, RBA says its waste tax money, crony, korup.
Gov 50% fund, RBA says its waste tax money, crony, korup.
Gov 25% fund, RBA says its waste tax money, crony, korup.
Gov no need to put waste tax money, oso can kena bash waste tax money, crony, korup?
RBA, RBA…..
Bully own people but bend to the great communist party? It sounds so North Korea.
Pls bring in China Magnalev.
Alamak… tak mahu la china, jepun la lagi bagus & berkualiti. Say NO to China!
Better Japan la. Tapi spare parts sure mahal.
The train and support system is alredi mahal :-(
yes, taiwan HSR using Sinkanshin is best example, almost near to brankrup taiwan HSR, few time Gov inject Money so make HSR running, still unsure future , one reason is Train/subsystem Parts too expensive. maintenance expensive by Japanese company.
Ask that bloody Chinese firm to tell their bloody People Republic to hands off our islands and our sea territory. Only then we talk business.
Wow.. there are lots of PRC people reading this Paultan’s entry. I’m impressed!
No talk about RV? :P
with 2 ringgit 60 cents being helped out, is this a surprise?
Better use Chinese HSR file pic instead of Hitachi. CRH380A is quite a beautiful train.
China’s HSR had one fatal accident, of which it was signalling system’s fault. 5 years had passed since, there hadn’t been any accidents. That should be enough assurance their safety is pretty good.
Japan is the best in the world, but people should understand its hardware is only small part of the equation. The culture, the people, the discipline, etc is the bigger factor. Going by Msia’s track record (oh the pun hohoho), don’t expect just because using Japanese hardware, it’ll be as top notch like in Japan.
Japan also had 1 accident, China also 1 only. But China network in terms of size is so much bigger than Japan. So in terms of accident / km network, Japan record is a lot worse.
Japan Shinkansen had no fatal accident recorded since service was started on Oct 1, 1964. Not a single passenger died while using shinkansen. China train got into accident with 40 passengers died and 191 injured.
1. Yes, shinkansen has perfect safety record. As i said, the people running the system deserves huge credit for this achievement. FYI, French TGV also has perfect safety record.
2. All those fatalities and injuries were from that 1 accident. It’s 3rd deadliest after German and Spanish HSR accident.
If you’re trying to mock Chinese HSR because of that accident record, then you’re also saying Germany and Spain makes crappy trains.
But i guess people won’t be that unbiased. German engineering mah…
Open up your mind. Considering the length, complexity of China HSR, it’s commendable China has run its HSR network without fatal accident since. That’s enough assurance they’ve learnt their lesson and improved its safety.
Use TGV instead. China made product very questionable/suspicious.
Who said Japan hig Speed no accident? You idiot.
Yes, we should getting China HSR tech, and future link to North/china via Thailand, so much more realistic.
China already come out new generation HSR train and soon replace CRH380A, new model call CNR CRH-0207、CSR – CRH-0503. and will standardize all system.
if select China HSR tech, will be choose between CRH-0207 or CSR – CRH-0503.
During the 1st test please bring people who decide to choose this vendor (speed max).
Haha even their car they prefer not made in china.
but this train made in china.
something smells fishy here.
Include SG Gov pipu woh….
I prefer Japan technology because their fool-proof system is the best.
But yes.. in Japan this technology is perfect with zero accidents because of the people itself. Not sure whether the same technology will be perfect with Malaysian attitude.
However if using China ‘copying’ technology surely there will be a lot of problems if combined with Malaysian attitude. Do you know the accident 5 years ago was covered up like crazy? They don’t let a single person go the crash site and they buried the train at the site!
If anything will happen with the Chinese HSR train, don’t expect it will be small. A massive accident will happen and all the investment will be no use.
I would prefer it to be from the Japanese. However, judging by the huge investment China had already made in KL, I foresee the eventual deal will go to the Chinese.
Ironically, the Rakyat will benefit more from a Japanese deal because they’ll employ more locals for the job since Japanese wages are much more expensive then Malaysians. As for the Chinese, it is a well known fact that they will “import” most of their workers from China, which is much cheaper, and also doing a National Service for its own country. So, which is the better, you can all decide for yourself.
I think Singapore prefer Shinkansen based on safety and proven records. Malaysia meanwhile with all the investment made by China would understandably choose China.
They should choose Talgo instead. :P
What you think? China help to paid our 1MDM debts without earning anything. Come on, you help me i help you. This is politic and money game.
Plz use Japan HSR. I dont trust things ‘Made In China’. Plus no deaths involved due to error by Japan HSR since its introduced in 1964. Or if want cheaper option use Korea HSR.
plz do bring chinese fake toy trains to Malaysia.
Japanese technology in high speed train are proven some more they one of the pioneers in this HSR industry, not like copy cat cheap chinese.
Dont blame China or Japan or any foreign countries, have a good look into the mirror of ourselves and our pockets, before criticising.
The bottom line is thus whether it benefits rakyat or not.
China spend about $300 billions building up their high speed rail (HSR) network, I still remember only a few years back the western media accused this project as a propaganda for the communist party, but today the HSR ferrying millions of passengers and making billions of trips every year, rain or shine, it is very popular with the people, luxury, punctual and convenience, if this is such a lousy idea, why do so many countries trying to copy them now? we got be fair to China, they are working very hard to improve the life of their own people, do not always accused them of cutting corner, $300 billions sound like a lot of money right! but wait, do you know that the american spend $700 billions a year for their defense department, why do you need to spent so much money for making bombs, fighter jets and aircraft carriers during a peaceful time, nobody coming close at challenging the american so call SUPREMACY today, again very sad to say that the western media continue to accused China as a threat to world peace.