Johor Ready To Collaborate On Potential KL-Singapore HSR Project Revival - State Exco

The state government of Johor has declared its willingness to work with the federal government to resurrect the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project.

Lee Ting Han, head of the Johor state investment, commerce, and consumer affairs committee, stated that the state government will decide on the type of partnership after the transport ministry (MoT) began working on the project's feasibility.

"First, we need to review the MoT proposal, and then the state government will remark on how we can collaborate, particularly on land concerns, planning permission, and so on."

"We hope the new federal government would evaluate the feasibility of the project so that it can create economic spillover in Johor," he told reporters after the Belt and Road Initiative Symposium concluded today at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

When asked if the reactivation of the HSR project would assist alleviate the excess of unsold luxury houses in Johor, Lee said the project might help in part because it is intended to generate economic advantages and attract more talent.

"For example, international corporations situated in Singapore may relocate certain operations to Johor due to reduced travel time."

"The HSR would build a seamless economic bubble between Malaysia and Singapore," he added.

Earlier in his speech, Lee stated that he agreed that the new administration was the ideal time to reassess and resuscitate the HSR project.

Former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob declared his desire to restart the HSR with Singapore as soon as feasible on August 22.

This came after his counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, stated on November 29, 2021, that he was open to the concept of a fresh HSR proposal.

Both countries signed a bilateral agreement on the project on December 13, 2016, however it was cancelled on January 1, 2017 due to many delays.

The RM110 billion project, which includes 350 kilometres of development, would reduce travel time from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore to 90 minutes.