By Sharen Kaur
sharen@nstp.com.my
Published in NST on July 27, 2012
DISCUSSIONS between Malaysia and Singapore on the high-speed rail project linking Kuala Lumpur and the island city-state is expected to commence soon, says a key official from the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).
According to SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, certain parties from Singapore have “informally” approached the commission on the high-speed rail project.
“The high-speed rail is for Malaysia. It is an exciting project. If the government decides to go ahead with the project, the engagement will be at the top level. There are many parties interested in the project.
“There are certain decisions that need to be made by the government like whether the high-speed rail will link Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baru, or Singapore.
“SPAD will put forward its recommendations to the government after completing the feasibility study. The government will have 2012 to make its own decision before approaching Singapore. The study is positive so far,” Syed Hamid said at the commission’s Buka Puasa event here yesterday.
SPAD is in the second phase of a feasibility study, which looks into the corridors, alignment, terminal points and the stops in-between.
Its chief development officer Azmi Abdul Aziz said the high-speed rail is targeted to start next year with tenders to be called by end-2013.
When asked to comment on the expected cost for the project, Azmi said it was still being finalised.
“This is not a direct turnkey project. It may be carried out as a private finance initiative or public private partnership. There is excitement from the corporate, public and the government sectors, from both neighbours (Malaysia and Singapore),” Azmi said.
Azmi, however, confirmed that 95 per cent of the investments for the project would be domestic-driven.
About 60 per cent of the cost will go towards infrastructure development, including civil works and track laying, and about 30 per cent towards rolling stocks.
Sources said the final cost would depend on whether the project would involve an underground rail link between the two neighbouring countries.
“It will also depend on the alignment in Malaysia. The length of the high-speed rail link is expected to be between 300km and 400km. We have to see how many stations are needed,” the source told Business Times.
The high-speed rail network has been highlighted as a high-impact project in the government’s Economic Transformation Programme.
sharen@nstp.com.my
Published in NST on July 27, 2012
LINKING INTEREST: Certain parties from the island city-state have ‘informally’ approached the Land Public Transport Commission about the project, says chairman
According to SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, certain parties from Singapore have “informally” approached the commission on the high-speed rail project.
“The high-speed rail is for Malaysia. It is an exciting project. If the government decides to go ahead with the project, the engagement will be at the top level. There are many parties interested in the project.
“There are certain decisions that need to be made by the government like whether the high-speed rail will link Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baru, or Singapore.
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SPAD is in the second phase of a feasibility study, which looks into the corridors, alignment, terminal points and the stops in-between.
Its chief development officer Azmi Abdul Aziz said the high-speed rail is targeted to start next year with tenders to be called by end-2013.
When asked to comment on the expected cost for the project, Azmi said it was still being finalised.
“This is not a direct turnkey project. It may be carried out as a private finance initiative or public private partnership. There is excitement from the corporate, public and the government sectors, from both neighbours (Malaysia and Singapore),” Azmi said.
Azmi, however, confirmed that 95 per cent of the investments for the project would be domestic-driven.
About 60 per cent of the cost will go towards infrastructure development, including civil works and track laying, and about 30 per cent towards rolling stocks.
Sources said the final cost would depend on whether the project would involve an underground rail link between the two neighbouring countries.
“It will also depend on the alignment in Malaysia. The length of the high-speed rail link is expected to be between 300km and 400km. We have to see how many stations are needed,” the source told Business Times.
The high-speed rail network has been highlighted as a high-impact project in the government’s Economic Transformation Programme.
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