Improve Malaysia’s existing rail system before building HSR to Singapore: Mahathir
CYBERJAYA — Malaysia’s transport sector can do without the proposed High Speed Rail (HSR) connecting Kuala Lumpur and Singapore for now, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on April 16.
CYBERJAYA — Malaysia’s transport sector can do without the proposed High Speed Rail (HSR) connecting Kuala Lumpur and Singapore for now, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on April 16.
Dr Mahathir explained that the infrastructure project is nice but not “necessary” as its development benefits only a few states between the two capital cities.
“Later on, we might need a high-speed train from Johor Bahru to Penang or even to the Thai border. So, we will not build the high-speed train yet,” he told a forum attended by local railway experts and companies.
Instead, Dr Mahathir said, the government was more keen on improving the existing railway services.
“We want to improve the quality of service given by our railway system, and that has been done to some extent, by double tracking and electrification.”
The prime minister, however, said Malaysia would go back to the discussion table with Singapore within two years to discuss the HSR project, which is expected to cover the 300km between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and cut travel time between the two cities to just 90 minutes.
“We have spoken to Singapore. For the time being, we are not going to build (the high-speed rail). We (have) asked for two years before we begin talks again.
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“(For) the HSR at the moment, we are not giving out any contracts but we have had to compensate to Singapore earlier.”
Dr Mahathir was also asked whether Singapore would be agreeable to the idea of the HSR being connected to the Thai border.
“No, I don’t think they will consider. We only think about Kuala Lumpur.”
On the possibility of having an HSR alignment from Johor Bahru to Penang, the prime minister said eventually, Malaysia would need such an alignment.
“When the time comes. We are not yet in need of such an alignment. Eventually, we will need it.”
On Sept 5, 2018, Singapore agreed to suspend the construction of the project until the end of May 2020.
As a result of Malaysia’s request for the deferment, it agreed to pay an abortive cost of S$15 million to Singapore by Jan 31 this year.
Dr Mahathir also said Malaysians had begun to appreciate using the railway system, which had improved over time.
He said some Malaysians would rather use the existing railway services than driving and facing traffic jams. AGENCIES
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