WITH the Malaysian Government planning to revive the original Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project, DAP urged the Government to take action against those who cancelled the project in the first place.
“We are becoming an international laughing stock for proposing to revive the project after paying RM320 mil in compensation to Singapore for terminating it earlier this year.
“This flip-flip only shows the incompetence of both Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional Governments, which bled hundreds of millions of ringing for a start-stop-start project,” said its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, in a statement.
Yesterday, Bernama reported as saying that both Singapore and Malaysia were finalising details on reviving the project, which was shelved by former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
After cancelling the project, Muhyiddin had proposed for the HSR project to continue but ending in Johor Bahru instead. However, many quarters including his predecessor Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak criticised the Pagoh MPs move.
Lim lauded Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for reviving the project, which he said would take passengers only 2.5 hours to travel between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, inclusive of the actual 90 minutes train journey.
“This is if we count the estimated 15 minutes’ immigration checks in each country, as well as 15 minutes’ transfer time between the city centres and HSR stations.
“This would compare against estimated travel times inclusive of immigration checks using planes (4.2 hours), buses (6.5 hours), intercity rail service KTM (9.5 hours),” the Bagan MP stated.
He added that under Muhyiddin revised project, HSR would not become financially viable and impractical logistically if it ended in Johor Bahru instead.
Transparency a must
On that note, Lim urged Ismail Sabri to take action against those responsible for Malaysia’s RM320 mil losses as Muhyiddin’s departure alone would not be sufficient.
“Others in the decision-making process such as International Trade and Industries Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong must also take responsibility.
“Bear in mind that Singapore’s Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung had revealed in March that the main reason why both countries could not reach an agreement on the HSR project was because Malaysia wanted to do away with the jointly-tendered asset company (AssetsCo).
“Ong added that through an open and transparent international tender, the AssetCo would have ensured accountability to both countries. Clearly this lack of commitment to transparency and open tenders by the Malaysian Government is disappointing,” the former finance minister added.
Lim remarked: “Will Ismail Sabri now conform to open tenders and transparency under the revived KL-Singapore HSR as well to ensure that the cost structure is not excessive and disadvantageous to Malaysia?” – Nov 30, 2021.
