JOHOR MB TO MEET PM OVER HSR, BATU PUTEH
‘Seeking detailed briefings on issues’
JOHOR Menteri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian will meet Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to discuss the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project and Pulau Batu Puteh.
Osman said the meeting was expected to take place next week.
He said he wanted to get a detailed briefing on the two issues from Dr Mahathir.
“I have written an official letter to the prime minister, and I also informed him that I wanted to discuss the issues with him. But, he is a busy man, what with his trip to Japan and then Hari Raya.
“I hope to see him as soon as possible next week so that I can be briefed in detail (on the postponement of HSR), as well as Pulau Batu Puteh.
“I will represent the voice of the people of Johor on Pulau Batu Puteh. Once I have been briefed, I will let the people know,” he said after opening a meeting of the Johor chapter of the Retired Civil Servants Association of Malaysia.
The government had announced the postponement of the HSR project, as well as the withdrawal of a challenge to the International Court of Justice regarding the awarding of Pulau Batu Puteh, or Pedra Branca, to Singapore.
Osman said there was a problem in the acquisition of land for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) line between Bukit Chagar here and Woodlands in Singapore.
He said landowners had placed high prices on their plots, which did not commensurate with market prices.
“The cost is somewhere around RM300 million. Many of the landowners are asking for a lot of compensation. We offered them compensation at current market prices, but they are asking for compensation equal to the projected prices once the project is completed.
“But this matter is still under discussion. Once things are settled, we will go ahead with the RTS project as soon as possible.”