SINGAPORE, July 19 – Malaysia will decide by this year whether it’s full steam ahead with plans for a high-speed rail (HSR) line between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, as it shortlists proposals from a narrowing list of private consortiums to back the project, an official has confirmed. as quoted by ChannelNewsAsia.
In a Wednesday (Jul 17) interview, Transport Minister Anthony Loke expressed hope that the Cabinet would decide on the viability of the multi-billion dollar project by the end of the fourth quarter.
“Once we have a policy decision to proceed with the high-speed rail, we will start negotiations with Singapore,” he said, as quoted in local media.
Mr Loke added that the government has already shortlisted three out of seven consortiums that submitted proposals following a request for information issued late last year.
He did not reveal the names of the associations, though he confirmed that the government’s policy is to award the HSR project to a group that is at least 51 per cent owned by Malaysian firms.
