The Malaysian Insight

IT is ridiculous to revive the Malaysia-Singapore high-speed rail project after paying the neighbouring partner a hefty compensation, Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

He said there was no need for a high-speed rail project to link the two countries as there was already a host of other connecting routes and transport.

“We can’t afford it and we don’t need it. We must weigh its usefulness against the needs of the country. 

“The HSR is going to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore; there is not much time saved. You can drive or fly,” he said at the launch of his new book, Capturing Hope: The Struggle Continues for a new Malaysia held on Zoom.

Last month, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the government was open to new proposals on the HSR project from Malaysia.

Both transport ministries would discuss the matter, he added.

On January 1, Singapore and Malaysia jointly announced the termination of the HSR project, as both had failed to reach an agreement on changes proposed by the latter before the agreement lapsed on December 31 last year.

In March, Malaysia announced that it had paid S$102.8 million (RM318 million) to the city-state for costs incurred for the development of the project and in relation to the extension of its suspension.

Dr Mahathir said in order for a high-speed rail system to be worth investment, it should offer wider coverage.

“If we want to make HSR popular, you must go a long distance. (For) short distances, the time saved is very minimal. 

“So why should people travel on an expensive train when they can travel by road or other trains?

“It should go a long distance, say from Singapore to Penang or to Alor Star or even the Thai border,” he said.

He also said it was ridiculous that Malaysia had paid a high sum of money to recompense Singapore for the work it had already done on the project, only to revive it now. – December 7, 2021.