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Reviving KL-Singapore HSR via private investment is feasible, but plenty of hurdles to overcome: analysts

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Tan Ai Leng

Published Mon, Apr 17, 2023 · 05:50 AM
    • Observers said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent visit to China has opened up opportunities to attract interested parties to participate in Malaysia’s major infrastructure projects, such as HSR.
    • Observers said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent visit to China has opened up opportunities to attract interested parties to participate in Malaysia’s major infrastructure projects, such as HSR. PHOTO: PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE OF MALAYSIA

    [KUALA LUMPUR] Long thought to be dead in the water, the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) could yet get a fresh lease of life, but only if the mega-project – once estimated to cost as much as RM110 billion (S$33.2 billion) – is paid for by the private sector.

    Last month, Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that the unity government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has not decided if it wants to revive the project, nor has it set a timeline to do so.

    He added that the government is, however, open to receiving proposals from private firms. A Mar 30 report in The Edge quoted unnamed sources as saying that five companies were invited to meet with two government agencies to assess their interest in reviving the HSR. The five include MMC, WCT, YTL, Berjaya and Malaysian Resources.

    InfrastructureAnwar IbrahimAsean Business

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