Singapore yet to receive new proposals from Malaysia to revive HSR project

SINGAPORE has yet to receive any new proposals from Malaysia to develop a high-speed rail (HSR) project that links Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, said Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat in Parliament on Thursday (Aug 3).

Singapore is willing to “discuss any new proposals for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR from Malaysia in good faith, starting from a clean slate”, he said.

Chee was responding to Members of Parliament Saktiandi Supaat and Lim Biow Chuan, who asked for an update on the discussions between Singapore and Malaysia on the HSR project.

Malaysia had announced in July that it is seeking proposals from private companies to develop the HSR between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, in an effort to revive the multibillion dollar project, which was called off more than two years ago.

Chee clarified in Parliament that Singapore is not involved in the exercise launched by MyHSR Corp, the Malaysian state-owned entity responsible for the project.

“I think we have to receive the proposals, and then we can study the proposals. We’ll keep an open mind on the possibilities to having a win-win arrangement between Singapore and Malaysia,” he said.

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Malaysia seeks proposals to revive high-speed rail project with Singapore

In 2021, Malaysia and Singapore scrapped a plan to build a 350 km rail line connecting the two countries after both parties failed to agree on several proposed changes to the project.

The project was estimated to cost around US$17 billion. Companies from China, Japan, South Korea and Europe had then expressed interest in contracts to build, operate and finance the trains and rail assets.

MyHSR Corp, the Malaysian entity, has invited local and international firms and consortia to submit proposals. It is looking for proposals to develop and operate the HSR project via a public-private partnership model.