Hold talks before cancelling HSR, says Najib

The former prime minister says the decision to undertake the project was based on a detailed study by both Malaysia and Singapore.

Former prime minister Najib Razak says cancelling the HSR project will affect the country’s economy.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Najib Razak yesterday urged the government to hold talks before making any decision to cancel the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project.

He said cancelling the project would affect the country’s economic future as well as job opportunities for Malaysians.

He added that the project was part of the transformation agenda to create new industries and ways for cooperation between the two countries, to increase high-income jobs and ensure better living standards for all.

Najib said the decision to undertake the project was based on a detailed study, carried out for years, by both parties.

“The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR is not inspired by the decision made by one country only,” he said in a post on his Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday said the Cabinet had agreed to cancel the HSR project in view of its financial implications, but added that this was subject to discussion with the Singapore government. -FMT