Loke Urged To Probe PN's Decision To Terminate KL-SG High Speed Rail

The decision to halt construction on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) project by the Perikatan Nasional-led (PN) government has been called for Loke Siew Fook, minister of transportation, to look into.

When the HSR was unveiled by the Najib Razak administration, Aziz Kaprawi was the deputy transport minister. He said that several studies indicated the project would have helped the populace and the economy.

It was predicted that the HSR would reduce the distance between KL and Singapore's airport to just 90 minutes.

On January 1, 2021, the railway project was abandoned, and as part of its commitment under the bilateral agreement, Malaysia was required to compensate Singapore with RM320 million.

Later, it was revealed that Singapore had refused Putrajaya's request to oust the HSR's systems provider and network operator, who would have had to answer to both nations.

A complete lack of transparency was present (from the PN government). What research was used by the government at the time to make its decision?

"Has the Cabinet offered or debated a replacement (for the HSR)?" said Aziz.

It was in the best interest of the public to be aware of all the specifics surrounding the cancellation of the HSR, thus he hoped Loke would unearth them.

He said that such an investigation should be "thorough and transparent."

After the project was scrapped, Mustapa Mohamed, who was then the minister of economic affairs, disclosed that a study into a potential KL-Johor Bahru HSR had been finished and submitted to the Cabinet.

Aziz said that this study's specifics should be made public as well, pointing out that experts had expressed concern that a KL-Johor Bahru route wouldn't be financially viable.

There needs to be responsibility. Who profited from the KL-Singapore HSR's cancellation? Why was such a terrible choice made? he said.

The KL-Singapore HSR project has received numerous requests to be reactivated.

Among those who believe the project should be continued are former finance minister Lim Guan Eng because it would benefit states like Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, and the Klang Valley economically.