PM stands by decision to call off HSR

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has stood by his decision to call off the Kuala Lumpur–Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project with Singapore despite receiving criticism by his predecessor Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak today.
Najib took to Facebook today to criticise his one time mentor by saying that Mahathir is going to stop 110,000 jobs from being created.
Najib said the project would benefit the economy by generating RM650 billion in Gross National Income by 2029 and create 110,000 job opportunities, but Mahathir rebutted him saying it was not "efficient".
"Even to spend RM60 to RM100 billion so that 100,000 people can work is not very efficient," he said after a breaking fast event with Cabinet members, civil servants and diplomats at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here.
Najib said he is disappointed with the decision and called for the government to be more transparent and to discuss before making any decisions as it will affect the economy and job opportunities for Malaysians.
He said studies also found that Malaysia will benefit most from the project as the majority of the railways are in the country.
He urged the government to make decisions based on benefiting the people and not based on grudges against the former government.