Report: Singapore awaiting Malaysia’s decision on HSR
SINGAPORE: Singapore is waiting for an official reply from Malaysia on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project.
The republic, on June 1, requested the Malaysian government, through diplomatic channels, to clarify Malaysia’s position on the project.
Quoting Singapore Transport Minister Khaw Boon in Parliament yesterday, The Straits Times reported that “to date, Singapore had still not received a reply from the Malaysian government”.
Khaw said public statements made by
Malaysian ministers and Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad through press interviews on the termination of the project “has not been followed through with any official communication to us”.
“Therefore, we have been left with no choice but to continue performing in accordance with the bilateral agreement and thus, continue to incur more costs,” Khaw was quoted as saying.
The report said Singapore incurred more than S$6 million (RM17.7 million), and it expected to incur another S$6 million this month.
“These costs will increase rapidly with time. From August to end of December, we will need to spend at least S$40 million more.
“Because the costs that we have incurred will add to the total amount of compensation, it is in Malaysia’s own interest to officially inform us of its position on the HSR project early, to minimise the amount involved,” Khaw said.
He highlighted this consideration to Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali “when he called me on June 6”.
Khaw said Singapore had spent more than S$250 million on the project.