DAP: Why revive Sabah gas pipeline project but not Singapore-KL rail?

 

DAP has questioned why Putrajaya decided to revive the tainted Trans Sabah Gas Pipeline (TSGP) and Multi-Product Pipeline (MPP) but chose to axe the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur High Speed Rail (HSR) project.

In a statement today, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the rail project was not cancelled during the Pakatan Harapan administration but was instead stalled to allow time to re-evaluate the "exorbitant pricing" and cost structure agreed by the previous BN government.

Lim said that not only had the Muhyiddin Yassin administration incurred RM320 million in compensation cost by axing the project, but now there are also questions on the viability of the rail project since the track will not go through Singapore.

"This is not feasible as it raises questions about the project's financial sustainability as well as limiting its positive economic impact to the country if the HSR does not stop in Singapore.

"There is no doubt that Johor, Malacca and Negeri Sembilan will be the greatest losers from the cancelled HSR project," said Lim.

The HSR project collapsed after the Muhyiddin administration could not agree with the original deal with Singapore. In doing so, Malaysia had to pay Singapore for the groundwork that had already begun.

Meanwhile, Lim urged Putrajaya to explain why the Muhyiddin administration had opted to quietly restart the TSGP and MPP projects.

"Eighty-eight percent or RM8.3 billion of the construction value was paid even though only 13 percent of unaudited work was done, questions will also be raised why the HSR project was not similarly revived.

"The government needs to come clean on the cause of this scandal and the form of action taken against those responsible in the interests of transparency and accountability," said Lim.

The Harapan administration had cancelled the TGSP and MPP in 2019 due to irregularities and austerity measures.

The 662km TSGP would have stretched from the Kimanis Gas Terminal to Sandakan and Tawau. The 600km MPP, meanwhile, would have connected various petrochemical projects in Malacca and Port Dickson to Jitra.

Both projects were undertaken by Finance Ministry-owned Suria Strategic Energy Resources (SSER). The company was fined RM18 million for failing to comply with Bank Negara conditions and was allegedly linked to the 1MDB scandal.

TGSP, MPP and the HSR are all Najib Abdul Razak-era projects.- Mkini