Decisions on HSR and RTS link to come soon: Khaw
Malaysia and Singapore are likely to reach a decision soon on both the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) and the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS), said Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan yesterday.
He posted on Facebook that he had a meeting in Singapore with Malaysia's Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali yesterday and that they were "brainstorming ideas on how to further our bilateral relationship".
"We should be able to announce our joint decisions on RTS and HSR soon," said Mr Khaw, who is also the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure.
Datuk Seri Azmin also said in a Facebook post that both countries were "inching closer to a win-win deal on HSR".
During his visit, he also called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.
Mr Azmin said he spoke to PM Lee on how the two countries can further enhance cooperation and enjoy mutual economic growth.
In May, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said his newly elected government wanted to scrap the 350km rail line between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, slated for completion in 2026.
Later, Malaysia said it would negotiate with Singapore and seek a deferment of the project.
As for the 4km RTS between Bukit Chagar in Johor Baru and Woodlands North, it was scheduled to open by end 2024.
But a June 30 deadline, for Singapore's SMRT and Malaysia's national rail operator Prasarana Malaysia to incorporate a joint venture company to operate the line, was missed.
Separately, Johor's Menteri Besar Osman Sapian has said his government is in talks with an unnamed company on building a third link to Singapore in the next three to four years.
He said the bridge could link Pengerang in south-east Johor to Pulau Ubin, with motorists continuing on to Singapore via an undersea tunnel.
Singapore's Transport Ministry said it had not received any official proposal or communications from Malaysia on a third link.
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