Update: RFI launched for KL-Singapore High Speed Rail project

SINGAPORE and Malaysia on Wednesday launched a Request for Information (RFI) exercise to gather views from the industry on how to structure the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project commercially.

"This market sounding exercise marks a major milestone in our HSR journey," said a joint statement by Singapore's Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan, and Malaysia's Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Wahid Omar.

"It is important for us to be properly informed of the industry views. We want to use this exercise to gauge market interest in the project and solicit views on different models and approaches."

The RFI is being undertaken by Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Malaysia's Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD). It marks the next phase of the HSR project announced by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in February 2013.

The RFI exercise is expected to conclude by year-end. The feedback received will inform the ongoing bilateral discussions and formal tender process subsequently.

In a blog post entitled "Still on track to reach KL in 90 minutes", Mr Khaw said the HSR "will be a game-changer for both countries and our people".

"This is the most important bilateral cooperation project and can be exemplary for regional cooperation. I am honoured to co-chair the Ministerial committee with Malaysian Minister Wahid to oversee the project," he wrote, adding that they will ensure it maintains "a steady pace of progress".

But the project must meet the market test to be "sustainable and exemplary".

"We know the potential that HSR can bring," he added. "It can catalyse economic growth, unlock new opportunities, and transform the way our peoples and businesses interact."

He pointed to the many examples of countries failing in their HSR aspirations or running into serious financial problems because it is a large and complex infrastructure project.

"A common reason is the gulf between the government's ambitions and the market reality," he explained. "This market sensing exercise is intended to close that gulf."

He noted that at the Ministry of National Development, "we could see the benefits of conducting market sensing before implementing large-scale projects, such as the development of the Integrated Resorts at Marina Bay and Sentosa".

Mr Khaw was previously the minister for national development.

"The journey ahead remains long," he concluded. "But we are putting in place the necessary building blocks. The RFI today is one such building block. We look forward to the market response."