Malaysia yet to decide on development model for KL–Singapore High-Speed Rail

• Transport Minister Anthony Loke also reiterated that the government intends to proceed with the HSR project only through private sector-led investment, without direct government funding.

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 7): Malaysia has yet to decide on the Kuala Lumpur–Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project, despite seeking concept proposals from private firms two years ago.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke (pictured) said the evaluation of the Request for Information (RFI) exercise conducted by MyHSR Corporation Sdn Bhd was presented to the Cabinet on Jan 8 this year but he did not disclose the outcome.

“Following that decision, the Ministry of Transport, together with relevant ministries and agencies, is currently finalising the key parameters as part of the process to determine the most suitable model for this private sector-led project before proceeding to the next stage—the Request for Proposal,” Loke said in a written reply on Tuesday.

He was responding to Onn Abu Bakar (Pakatan Harapan-Batu Pahat), who inquired about the current status of the feasibility study for the HSR project.

Loke also reiterated that the government intends to proceed with the HSR project only through private sector-led investment, without direct government funding.

To recap, MyHSR launched the call for concept proposals from local and international firms and consortia to develop and operate the HSR project via a public-private partnership model in July 2023.

According to earlier reports, three consortia were shortlisted for the HSR project: a Berjaya Land Bhd (KL:BJLAND)-led consortium, a YTL Construction Sdn Bhd-led consortium and a Chinese consortium reportedly led by state-owned China Railway Construction Corp.

Berjaya Corp Bhd (KL:BJCORP), founded by tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, remains keen on the multibillion-ringgit project despite one of its partners, Malaysia Resources Corp Bhd (KL:MRCB), withdrawing from the consortium in December last year.

Following MRCB’s exit, the Berjaya-led consortium now comprises Berjaya Rail Sdn Bhd (70%-owned by Berjaya Land Bhd), government-owned Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd, IJM Corp Bhd (KL:IJM) and technical partners Deutsche Bahn, Hitachi Rail and Hyundai Rotem.

The HSR project was first announced in September 2010 by then-Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. It aimed to cut travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to 90 minutes, compared with more than four hours by car.

However, the project was suspended in September 2018 following a change in government after the 14th general election and later terminated in January 2021 after Malaysia and Singapore failed to reach an agreement on key details.

As part of the termination process, Malaysia paid over RM320 million to the Singapore government for costs incurred in preparation for the project and during the extended suspension period.

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