HSR KL – SG is changed? (not officially mentioned by any minister yet). What has happened?

News about HSR KL – SG

This was reported in an Article in stratistimes.com. In the article which it has referred to an article in The Malaysian Insight (TMI), the following were some of the important latest updates. Malaysia is said to be continuing the High Speed Rail (HSR) without Singapore. Nevertheless, a Singapore Ministry of Transport has commented this, “As communicated in the Dec 2 joint statement by both prime ministers, we will announce further details on the HSR project through a joint statement in due course.”

TMI reported that Malaysia had asked to build a HSR station at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, which Singapore had rejected, with the source claiming that the Republic perceived this as a threat to its aviation industry. The new targeted targeted completion date for the HSR is 2029, while the number of expected passengers has been revised downwards to 4.2 million from 8.4 million previously. Please do read more details in the article here: Article in stratistimes.com.

If you like to read the article in TMI, it is here. Just need to make sure you are already a subscriber yeah.

Conclusion

We still have no formal announcements or in this case, supposed to be a joint statement by both countries and this is supposed to be announced before end of 2020. Thus, whatever is being reported needed to be treated as unconfirmed news. While that link to KLIA was mentioned as one of the show stopper, I think there are definitely more reasons too. As for now, just note that if this does not proceed, Malaysia would need to pay a compensation of S$104.67 (RM317 million) to Singapore for the all the work done thus far.

I just hope both countries can look at this as a long term project for the benefit of both countries even if analysts have said that one country stands to benefit more. While Singapore’s Changi airport is the busiest here in ASEAN, the HSR will be a game changer because China has continued to pursue the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and this is said to already cover the routes from China until Thailand. Just have to wait for the formal joint announcement?

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Next suggested article: HSR: A meeting of two PMs. Positive?