MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE CONFIRM POSTPONEMENT OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT – NOW STUDYING FOR HOW LONG TO FREEZE PROJECT

THE high-speed rail project is now on hold, and senior officials are negotiating the terms of the deferment.

The Straits Times reported that Singapore’s Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan yesterday communicated Singapore’s agreement to Malaysia’s request for a deferment at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur with Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali.

Both sides will now study how long the project should be shelved for, before returning to the discussion table.

“Everyone is huddling at their ends, and senior officials will come together within the next one week,” said a source familiar with negotiations on the line, which would shorten travel time between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to 90 minutes.

The deferment period may range from one to two years.

Last month, Malaysia said it would defer implementation of the project, estimated to cost RM110 billion, due to limited financial resources.

– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com