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KL-Singapore high speed rail MOU expected to be signed this year

KUALA LUMPUR — Singapore and Malaysia are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) later this year for the development of a high-speed rail (HSR) linking both countries.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak attends the opening of the new World Bank offices in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 28, 2016.  Photo: Reuters

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak attends the opening of the new World Bank offices in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 28, 2016. Photo: Reuters

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KUALA LUMPUR — Singapore and Malaysia are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) later this year for the development of a high-speed rail (HSR) linking both countries.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak said Malaysia expects to sign the MOU in the “middle of this year”, The Star newspaper reported. Mr Najib announced this in a keynote speech at the 12th Invest Malaysia conference on Tuesday (April 12).

Mr Najib said the project, together with other major development projects under the 11th Malaysia plan, would not be affected by the cuts to the budget caused by the fall in crude oil prices. “They are all still going ahead, they are not grandiose mega projects for show, and for vanity… These are part of our future,” he said.

Singapore’s Ministry of Transport said the two parties were “working towards signing an MOU at the next Leaders’ Retreat,” which will be held in Malaysia later this year. The ministry did not elaborate.

The HSR project was first announced by Mr Najib and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in February 2013.

The link aims to cut the travel time between the two cities to 90 minutes, with terminus stations in Kuala Lumpur’s Bandar Malaysia and in Singapore’s Jurong East.

Last October, both countries called for a joint exercise to suss out market sentiment on the project, and gather industry opinion on commercial and technical aspects of the project. The Request for Information (RFI) exercise was to help inform the subsequent formal tender process.

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