Malaysia, Singapore ink high-speed rail project

14 Dec 2016 / 12:43 H.
    Malaysia, Singapore ink high-speed rail project
    Malaysia hopes to emulate China's high-speed railway (HSR) system with the inking of M'sia-Singapore HSR project.
    Malaysia, Singapore ink high-speed rail project
    PUTRAJAYA, 13 Dis -- Perdana Menteri Datuk Sri Najib Tun Razak bersama rakan sejawatannya dari Singapura, Lee Hsien Loong menyaksikan upacara memeterai perjanjian antara kerajaan Malaysia dan Singapura berkaitan Keretapi Kelajuan Tinggi Kuala Lumpur-Singapura di Bangunan Perdana Putra hari ini. Malaysia diwakili Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Abd Rahman Dahlan dan Singapura diwakili Menteri Penyelaras bagi Infrastruktur dan Pengangkutan, Khaw Boon Wan. Turut hadir Timbilan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Singapura, Teo Chee Hean. --fotoBERNAMA (2016) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA 


PUTRAJAYA: The High speed railway (HSR) project linking Kuala Lumpur to Singapore has to be commercially viable to ensure a steady influx of financing for the project.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said he is confident that the project will will meet its deadline due to the benefit it will bring to the people of both countries.
"HSR is commercially viable and will be able to get long-term financing for the project. I do not envisage problems.
"Those interested (in the tender process) can make available certain financial arrangements as part of their package," Najib said during a joint press conference with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong after witnessing the signing of the project's agreement at the Prime Minister's office here.
Lee said the HSR project is a significant milestone between both countries and proves that Malaysia and Singapore have a stable bilateral relationship.
"It is a long term and complex project, it needs strong political will on both sides and the stable relationship between both countries has enabled this agreement," he said.
The deal was signed by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan for Malaysia and Singapore Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan.
The agreement signing is part of Lee's agenda while is on a working visit to attend the 7th Malaysia–Singapore Leaders' Retreat here.
The HSR service is targeted to be completed by 2026 and will cut travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to just 90 minutes.
The route totals 350km in Malaysia and 15km in Singapore.
There will be seven stations in Malaysia – Bandar Malaysia, Putrajaya, Seremban, Ayer Keroh, Muar, Batu Pahat and Iskandar Puteri – before it ends at Jurong East station in Singapore.
The high speed rail is expected to boost connectivity, facilitate travel between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, enhance business linkages and improve people-to-people ties.
Meanwhile, the 7th Malaysia–Singapore Leaders' Retreat also discussed bilateral issues of mutual concern, review progress of existing bilateral cooperation, building on the momentum of the discussions held and initiatives agreed during the 2015 Leaders' Retreat.
The discussion also concluded that Malaysia and Singapore are looking to connect Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) service with Singapore's Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) system to reduce traffic under the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project.
Najib also stressed that Malaysia is determined to uphold the agreement made with Singapore on the water deal signed back in 1962.
He said both parties will keep to the original agreement despite recent supply affected by environmental factors.
"Climate change is something which has affected water supply. So water is an issue we have to work closely on," Najib said.

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