[ad_1]
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin discussed the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) project, in view of the December 31, 2020 deadline for the second and last extension of the suspension of the construction.
Both prime ministers’ offices said in a joint statement on Wednesday (December 2) that more details on the project would be released “in due course.”
The two leaders “assessed the progress of the discussions” during a video conference and “got a good understanding of the respective positions of Malaysia and Singapore.”
Mr. Lee and Mr. Muhyiddin also reaffirmed the strong bilateral relations between the two countries that encompass many areas of cooperation and the sincere desire to further strengthen these relations for mutual benefit.
READ: KL-Singapore HSR: Malaysia intends to continue project given ‘positive multiplier effect’ on economy, Finance Minister says
READ: Malaysia and Singapore still negotiating on ‘proposals’ to ‘improve’ ISS project: Malaysian minister
In November, the Malaysian government said it intended to continue the HSR project given the “positive multiplier effect” on the economy.
This followed the announcement in September 2018 by Singapore and Malaysia to postpone construction of the HSR until the end of May this year. Malaysia had to pay Singapore S $ 15 million for the costs incurred to suspend the project.
Malaysia then requested an additional seven-month extension to allow both parties to discuss and evaluate Malaysia’s proposed changes to the project.
Mr. Khaw Boon Wan, who was then Singapore’s Minister of Transport, agreed to the “final extension of the suspension period” until December 31st.
Both countries had also announced that HSR service was expected to begin on January 1, 2031, rather than the original start date of December 31, 2026, as a result of that suspension.
The proposed HSR line aims to reduce travel time between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to about 90 minutes by train, from the current 11 hours on existing train services.
When operational, the line will offer an express service between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, a national service from Kuala Lumpur to Iskandar Puteri and a shuttle service from Iskandar Puteri to Jurong East.
