Govt Finalising Key Parameters For KL-SG HSR Project - MOT

The Ministry of Transport announced that the government is in the process of finalizing key parameters for the High-Speed Rail (HSR) Kuala Lumpur-Singapore (KL-SG) project.

The project, which will be spearheaded by the private sector, will be presented to the Cabinet for approval. The next phase will involve a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to evaluate shortlisted consortiums based on funding mechanisms, project model studies, and other relevant details, it says.

The ministry was responding to a question from Mersing MP Muhammad Islahuddin Abas at the Dewan Rakyat on February 17 about the present status of the HSR KL-SG project, following Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd's withdrawal from the consortium managed by Berjaya Rail Sdn Bhd.

It also shared that MyHSR Corporation Sdn Bhd has finished assessing seven conceptual proposals from local and international firms/consortia received through a Request for Information (RFI) process. The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) is a proposed railway project that would connect Kuala Lumpur and Singapore by a high-speed rail route. The 350-kilometer rail route, initially slated for completion in 2026, was intended to connect major stations in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, and Johor. However, following a change in government in 2018, the project was scrutinised for its exorbitant expenses and financial implications. Work was suspended in September 2018, and the project was officially terminated in 2021 after both countries failed to reach an agreement on proposed adjustments.

Malaysia was compelled to compensate Singapore with S$102.8 million (RM340.6 million) for incurred costs. Despite the losses, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has previously declared that the government is willing to review the HSR project provided prices are reduced.