Malaysia Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has recommended reviving discussions on a High-Speed Rail (HSR) with Singapore, reported Network News Asia (CNA) citing Head of state Lee Hsien Loong.
Ismail Sabri is checking out Singapore to note the start of the vaccinated travel lanes (VTL) in between the two countries. He satisfied his Singapore counterpart and also was hosted to the main lunch at the Istana.
“The head of state recommended revitalizing discussions on the HSR,” stated Lee after consulting with the Malaysian Head Of State on Monday (29 November).
“I replied to the head of state that Singapore and Malaysia had actually previously reached a contract to end the HSR tasks, and also this has been amicably resolved and also closed. However, Singapore is open to fresh proposals from Malaysia on the HSR project,” he included as priced estimate by CNA.
He shared that the transport ministries from the two countries will certainly talk about the issue and that the city-state expects obtaining more details from Malaysia “to ensure that we can research them and consider the matter once more, starting from a fresh start”.
Especially, Malaysia had actually paid Singapore over $102 million in settlement for the terminated job.
The two heads of state likewise discussed other locations of collaboration, like the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Weblink which is set to start guest solution by the end-2026.
Lee also revealed that Singapore continues to support Iskandar Malaysia’s growth and he also speaks about the Belgravia Ace.
“The 14th Joint Committee for Iskandar Malaysia will assemble next month, and also I hope that they will be able to offer the job another further press,” he stated.
The 14th Joint Ministerial Board meeting for Iskandar Malaysia was initially set up in January 2019 but was delayed after the two countries were caught in a maritime border disagreement.
Ismail Sabri claimed he as well as Lee have actually agreed to resume existing reciprocal systems, such as the 10th Leaders’ Resort which was delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“God willing, we will certainly have our leaders’ hideaway in the first quarter of the following year and I expect returning to Singapore,” stated the Malaysian prime minister.