Singapore’s Ministry of Transport (MoT) is ready to commence discussions with Malaysia on the high-speed rail (HSR) to confirm the position of both parties in relation to the project.
According to a report by Channel NewsAsia, the Singapore government has already received a letter from Malaysia’s economic affairs minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali stating that the Malaysian government was looking into the details of the HSR project and will begin talks with the republic soon – the letter was dated July 23.
Prior to this, the Singapore MoT sent a written request to its Malaysian counterpart on June 1 seeking clarification on the its position on the project. It added that discussions with the Malaysian government on the project should take place by July 31. “As of Aug 1, 2018, Malaysia has not proposed a meeting date,” the Singapore MoT said in a statement issued on Wednesday (August 1).
Recently, Azmin Ali has come out to say that the July 31 date was merely a suggestion, as The Straits Times reports, and that a meeting will take place in August instead. “That is Singapore’s suggestion. As I mentioned in my letter last week (to Singapore) we will firm up the date,” Azmin told reporters in Parliament on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Singapore MoT also noted that it had not received any official word from Malaysia on the formation of a joint venture company to be the operator of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link.
Anthony Loke, Malaysia’s transport minister, had previously said a joint venture company would be set up upon receiving the Cabinet’s approval following the submission of a detailed working paper with detailed information.
In July, it was reported that Singapore’s rail operator, SMRT Corporation Ltd and Malaysia’s national rail operator, Prasarana Malaysia, had missed the June 30 deadline to form a joint venture company to operate the 4-km link between the Bukit Chagar and Woodlands North stations
“Singapore remains committed to working closely with Malaysia to ensure the smooth implementation of the RTS Link project,” commented the Singapore MoT, adding that it was happy that Malaysia remained committed to the JB-SG RTS Link project.
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Hopefully this project now does not become like LRT3 from RM9 billion can lompat to RM32 billion. OMG OMG
Now we are confident HSR will we dealt cleanly as we have full trust in a clean Government.
Hopefully but not expecting it will happen, most likely will just as well like other projeks. All cuz the incompetent Boboi FM who cant count.
RM55 Billion 1MDB debacle cud buy HSR to Sinjiapor
Correct. Instead they used it to try break IPP monopoly that was arm twisting TNB. Too bad they failed and now Kawan Bapak r licking their lips to divide the spoils. We cud have cheap electric but alas…
i wonder how the singaporean gov still have trust at the malaysian gov… later malaysian gov make another u turn, singapore goona garu kepala again.
I am actually all for HSR as I am from JB and travel regularly to KL. If it were up to me I would drop the Batu Pahat Station and move the Muar Station location closer to Batu Pahat. Save cost from building one station.
Muar station is to stroke the ex-DPM. Of cuz now that hes on the other side and they now in power, so still need to continue stroking him…