MyHSR Corporation has evaluated the seven Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) concept proposals received from both local and international firms and consortia through the Request for Information (RFI) process, transport minister Anthony Loke has said, according to the New Straits Times.
“At present, the ministry, together with the relevant ministries and agencies, is finalising the key parameters for the proposed implementation of the HSR project on a private-led basis. These parameters will be presented to the cabinet for approval.
“Further details regarding the shortlisted consortiums, the financing methods, and the project model study will be reviewed in the next phase, which will involve the Request for Proposal (RFP) process,” he said yesterday in a parliamentary written reply to Mersing MP Muhammad Islahuddin Abas, who asked about the project’s latest update following Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd’s (MRCB) exit from the Berjaya Rail Sdn Bhd-led consortium.
MRCB announced on December 19 that it had issued a notice of termination to Berjaya Rail, ending their teaming agreement. Signed on December 15, 2023, the agreement was intended for the submission of a non-binding conceptual proposal to MyHSR for the KL-Singapore HSR project.
The Berjaya Rail-led consortium will include Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), IJM Corporation and technical partners such as Deutsche Bahn, Hitachi Rail and Hyundai Rotem. It will be further strengthened to better align with the evolving needs of the project and to meet the government’s expectations. Founder and adviser Tan Sri Vincent Tan has also urged local companies to be part of a consortium for the project.
The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR project was first agreed upon in 2013, and this will be the 12th year of negotiations, including postponements and the cancellation in 2021. The initial bilateral agreement was signed in December 2016 for completion in 2025 to become operational in 2026.
At Malaysia’s request in 2018, both governments agreed to postpone the project until May 2020 to identify cost reduction options, resulting in Malaysia paying S$15 million (around RM45.1 million at the time) for abortive costs incurred by Singapore.
In May 2020, the deferment was extended again to December 31, as it was decided at the time that the decision to cancel the project will incur cost for the country. It was previously reported that Malaysia would have to reimburse Singapore for the project implementation costs incurred by the latter up to the point of suspension, prior to its cancellation in January 2021.
With Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as PM in 2022, Malaysia initiated talks of reviving the HSR. This was followed by the current Malaysian administration, which was reported in July 2023 to be considering a public-private partnership model for the HSR project to proceed without public funds.
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