Singapore and Malaysia are expected to announce soon a mutually beneficial agreement regarding the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR), reported Channel NewsAsia.
“We are inching closer to a win-win deal on HSR thanks to the hard work of officials from both sides,” said Malaysia’s Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali.
He said this in a tweet on Thursday morning (30 Aug) after meeting with Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan to discuss the HSR and the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) link.
“Always delightful meeting Minister Azmin Ali [to brainstorm ideas] on how to further our bilateral relationship. There is so much we can do together for mutual benefits,” said Khaw in a Facebook post on Thursday.
“We should be able to announce our joint decisions on RTS and HSR soon,” he added.
Previously, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said in June that the HSR would be cancelled, but he later clarified that they intend to defer the project, which he said would cost RM110 billion (S$37 billion), amid Malaysia’s high debt of over RM1 trillion (S$335 billion).
Meanwhile, Mahathir said on Thursday that Malaysian authorities are considering to build a third link with Singapore, given the congested Causeway to the north and the bridge from Tuas.
In a reported by The Star, Johor Chief Minister Osman Sapian said state officials are holding discussions with a firm on putting-up a third-link in three to four years.
Datuk Osman revealed that the mulled bridge would span from Pengerang near Kota Tinggi and end at Singapore’s Pulau Ubin island. Immigration checks can be conducted in either Pulau Ubin or Pengerang.
“Yesterday, I had a discussion with interested parties about the possibility of a third link from east Johor. We observed that the area was close to Pulau Ubin – they are only about 3km apart.”
Eugenia Rosaline Shlaen edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories, email eugenia@propertyguru.com.sg
