MCA has urged Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to clarify if the cancellation of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) was approved by the cabinet.
In a statement today, MCA deputy publicity chief Chai Kim Sen said he was puzzled why Mahathir had announced the news after chairing the Bersatu supreme council meeting yesterday.
Mahathir had been responding to a reporter's question over his previous remarks about potentially cancelling the HSR project after the meeting at Bersatu’s headquarters on Monday.
This was in the wake of Mahathir's interview with the Financial Times, in which he first hinted that the HSR would be scrapped on grounds that the country could not afford it and the returns were insignificant.
Chai said Putrajaya should not make any rash decisions on the HSR because the project will bring long-term economic benefits.
He added that scrapping project will involve a large compensation to Singapore and hurt diplomatic relations.
"Therefore, the people have the right to know if this decision was made following formal discussion in cabinet or not," he said.
Yesterday, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who admitted that the matter was not discussed in the cabinet, said the ministers would scrutinise the cancellation during their weekly meeting this morning.
HSR was one of two infrastructure megaprojects initiated by the Najib Abdul Razak administration. Both projects are currently under review. -Mkini
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