Update 18 Jul 2024: Malaysia to decide on HSR project with Singapore by year-end
Malaysia is shortlisting proposals for a high-speed rail link between the capital here and Singapore and should decide if it will proceed with the multi-billion dollar project soon. In an interview with Bloomberg, Transport Minister Anthony Loke expressed hope that Malaysia’s Cabinet would decide on the viability of the project by the end of the fourth quarter.
“Once we have a policy decision to proceed with the high-speed rail, we will start negotiations with Singapore,” Loke was quoted as saying. The government has already shortlisted three out of seven consortiums that submitted proposals following a request for information issued late last year. Loke did not disclose the companies involved, stating only that the government’s policy is to award the high-speed rail project to a group that is at least 51 per cent owned by Malaysian firms.
According to local news outlet The Edge, the shortlisted proposals include those led by YTL Corp., Berjaya Land Bhd and China Railway Construction Corporation. YTL and Berjaya are controlled by Malaysian tycoons Francis Yeoh and Vincent Tan, respectively. The 350-kilometre rail line between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore was initially approved in 2013 but was scrapped seven years later due to disagreements over costs and other issues.
Malaysia to decide on Singapore high-speed rail link this year
The Malaysia-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) line – which seeks to cut travel time between the two cities to 90 minutes from more than four hours by car – was estimated to cost as much as 100 billion ringgit ($21.4 billion) as a government-funded project
Malaysia will decide in the coming months whether to proceed with a multibillion-dollar high-speed rail (HSR) line between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government weighs proposals from a narrowing list of private consortiums.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said in an interview Wednesday that he hopes Malaysia’s cabinet will decide on the viability of the project by the end of the fourth quarter. “Once we have a policy decision to proceed with the high-speed rail, we will start negotiations with Singapore,” Loke said.
Anwar’s government already shortlisted three out of seven consortiums that submitted proposals after issuing a so-called request for information late last year, Loke said, declining to identify the companies involved. The government’s policy is to have a strategic asset like the high-speed rail given to a group that is at least 51%-owned by Malaysian firms, he said. Separate proposals led by YTL Corp., Berjaya Land Bhd., and China Railway Construction Corporation have been shortlisted for the project, local news outlet The Edge reported in March, citing sources it didn’t identify. YTL and Berjaya are controlled by Malaysian tycoons Francis Yeoh and Vincent Tan, respectively.
Malaysia seeks proposals to revive high-speed rail project with Singapore
Malaysia on Tuesday said it was seeking proposals from private firms to develop a high-speed railway between its capital Kuala Lumpur and neighbouring Singapore, reviving a multi-billion-dollar project called off more than two years ago.
Malaysia and Singapore had cancelled a plan to build a 350-kilometre (217-mile) rail line connecting the two countries after they failed to agree on several proposed changes to the project. At the time the project was estimated to cost around $17 billion and companies from China, Japan, South Korea and Europe had expressed an interest in contracts to build, operate and finance the trains and rail assets. In a statement on Tuesday, MyHSR Corp, a Malaysian-government owned entity responsible for the project, called for the private sector to submit proposals to develop and operate the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail project via a public-private partnership model.
MyHSR invited local and international firms and consortia to submit proposals. "(The process) marks the government's initiative to reactivate the ... project via new funding mechanisms and implementation models in efforts to further improve the rail transport infrastructure and to invigorate the national economy," it said. Singapore's transport ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Singapore indicated last year the country is open to fresh proposals from Malaysia on the project, according to media.
Malaysia revives 'ambitious' high-speed rail plan amid hurdles
Malaysia has revived a high-speed rail plan to connect Kuala Lumpur and Singapore
MyHSR, the government-owned entity leading the project, declined to name the companies interested in the project. Japanese companies did not submit proposals during the expression-of-interest process that ended Jan. 15. MyHSR will shortlist three to four consortiums for the next phase, the request for proposals round, as early as this month and present its review of the bids to the cabinet, sources said. The Malaysian government is expected to present the proposal to Singapore over the next few months to determine if the city-state wants to take part in the project. "We want to finalize [the proposal] as quickly as possible, hopefully over the next three to four months," a Malaysian official told Nikkei Asia. MyHSR is also discussing an option to extend the line from Kuala Lumpur only to the southern state of Johor if Singapore decides not to participate.
The expression-of-interest phase of the bidding follows Malaysia's call in July last year for the private sector to submit proposals to develop and operate the project through a public-private partnership model. In August, Singapore said it was willing to discuss any new proposal from Malaysia "starting from a clean state," then-Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat told parliament. The city-state said at the time that it had not received any new proposals from its neighbor.
New Malaysian bids to revive KL-Singapore high-speed rail, but govt funding remains missing link
An artist's impression of the upcoming Seremban station on the KL-Singapore high-speed rail line
According to MyHSR Corporation, the government-owned company in charge of developing and implementing the HSR, seven local and international consortia submitted their concept proposals at the close of its request for information (RFI) exercise on Jan 15. It declined to name the companies involved. The RFI was held in order for the Malaysian government to assess the private sector’s ability to fully finance the project without state funds or guarantees. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration has said it is open to reviving the HSR, but it will not pay for the 350km-long line, which is estimated to cost over RM100 billion (S$28 billion).
It was reported that Japanese companies including East Japan Railway Company pulled out from the project just days before the Jan 15 deadline, describing it as “too risky” without the government’s financial support. But other companies have ventured a bid, in the hope that the government will relent on its stance. Analysts say the bidders may propose and justify the need for financial support from the government as part of their submissions.
Malaysia to submit new high-speed rail proposal to S’pore after discussion: Anwar
An artist's impression of the upcoming Seremban station on the KL-Singapore high-speed rail line. PHOTO: EDELMAN
The high-speed rail (HSR) line between Malaysia and Singapore is still under discussion, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Malaysian Prime Minister said Transport Minister Anthony Loke would bring the matter forward to Singapore after a decision is made. “It is still being deliberated on our level. As soon as we reach a decision, Loke will liaise with his Singaporean counterpart,” he told the media after launching the Malaysia Commercialisation Year Summit 2023, on Friday.
On Thursday, Singapore’s Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said they had not received any new proposals from Malaysia for the HSR line. “Singapore is willing to discuss any new proposals for a Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR from Malaysia in good faith, starting from a clean slate,” Mr Chee said. Malaysia and Singapore inked bilateral agreements for the project on Dec 13, 2016. The 350km railway line, which was aimed to be completed in 2026, would reduce the travel time between both destinations to 90 minutes.
However, the RM110 billion ($32 billion) project was put on the backburner in September 2018 with both sides agreeing to shelve it until Dec 31, 2020. On Jan 1, 2021, Malaysia and Singapore jointly announced the termination of the project as no agreements were reached on the changes proposed by Malaysia and the fact that the agreement had expired on Dec 31, 2020. In March 2021, Malaysia announced it had paid S$102.8 million to Singapore for costs incurred by the republic for the development of HSR and the delays involved.
related:
KL-S'pore High-Speed Rail discussions ongoing, both sides hard at work to meet year-end deadline
Singapore and Malaysia are in discussions on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) project, and hope to come to a conclusion by the end of the year, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday (July 30).
PM Lee added he is hopeful that discussions on the HSR project will bear fruit over the next three to four months. "The Malaysian side has given us certain proposals on the changes, which we are studying carefully and we'll discuss further with them," he told reporters following a ceremony at the Causeway to mark the official resumption of the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link. The basic thinking behind the HSR - that Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are two cities with significant links, and improved transportation connectivity will lead to more business and closer ties - remains true, said PM Lee.
The 350km rail line would cut travelling time between Malaysia's capital and Singapore to 90 minutes, compared with more than four hours by car. It would also halve the current end-to-end travel time of about five hours by airplane.
related:
An event in the past that showcased the KL-Singapore high-speed rail project. (Photo: Bernama)
Malaysia is seeking proposals from local and international firms on the revival of the high-speed rail (HSR) project between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore which had been called off more than two years ago.
In a statement on Tuesday (Jul 11), MyHSR Corp said that following positive response to its initial input gathering exercise in March, the firm was now embarking on a full-fledged Request For Information (RFI) exercise to get the private sector to officially submit concept proposals to develop and operate the HSR project via a “public-private partnership model”. MyHSR Corp - a company owned by the Minister of Finance (Incorporated) and under the supervision of Malaysia’s Transport Ministry - is responsible for the development and implementation of the project.
The company said it had earlier engaged with selected private companies during the initial information gathering stage to understand the level of interest, capabilities, and resource requirements needed to make the HSR project sustainable. It added that to further assist the government in making informed decisions, the RFI exercise will be opened to local and international firms and consortia to submit their concept proposals.
Malaysia invites proposals from private sector for S’pore-KL high-speed rail project
An artist's impression of the Bandar Malaysia High Speed Rail (HSR) station in Kuala Lumpur. The project has been shelved for two years. PHOTO: EDELMAN
The proposed high-speed rail (HSR) project between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur is gathering momentum, with the Malaysian government inviting private firms to provide in-depth proposals to assess how feasible a public-private partnership will be.
The HSR project, which was envisioned as a 350km rail link between Singapore and Malaysia’s capital, has been shelved for more than two years.
But Minister of Transport Anthony Loke said on Wednesday that government-owned MyHSR Corporation has initiated a request for information (RFI) exercise after having earlier obtained preliminary proposals from private companies.
"Privately funded KL-Singapore HSR a way to improve country's productivity and income, manage RM1.5 trillion debt"
The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high speed train (KL-Singapore HSR) project must get underway to help manage Malaysia's RM1.5 trillion debt. NSTP/HAIRUL ANUAR RAHIM
The government, Fauzi disclosed today, had decided that both Malaysia and Singapore would revive the project, which was terminated in January 2021 and mooted 22 years ago by YTL Group. There will be no cost to the government as the HSR would be a public-private partnership, he added.
He said although there are other strategies to increase revenue outside the HSR, it is imperative to start the bullet train project.
Malaysian government re-opens KL-Singapore high-speed rail project
Kuala Lumpur has a mass transit system (pictured) but an HSR link with Singapore would add economic possibilities. Credit: Shutterstock
MyHSR Corp, the delivery vehicle for the Malaysian government’s high-speed rail project to connect the capital Kuala Lumpur with Singapore, has called for concept proposals for the long-shelved plan.
The project was called off more than two years ago, but MyHSR said it had “engaged with selected private companies… to understand the level of interest, capabilities, and resource requirements needed to make this project sustainable.”
It is now initiating a Request For Information (RFI), asking local and international firms to submit fully-fledged proposals for a rail line to cut the current 4-hour-plus drive time between the cities. The project aims to make that journey just 90 minutes – without stepping on board an aeroplane.
2026 start for S'pore-KL high-speed rail 'realistic but not easy'
THE 2026 operational deadline for the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur High Speed Rail, though realistic, will not be easily met and requires political commitment for it to happen, a regional director for French rail company Alstom has said.
In an interview with The Business Times on Thursday, Jean-Francois Beaudoin, senior vice-president for the Asia-Pacific for Alstom Transport, also confirmed the company's interest in becoming an asset company for the service.
Leaders from Singapore and Malaysia signed a memorandum of understanding in July to commit their governments to the 350km high-speed rail project. A legally binding bilateral agreement is expected later this year.
Malaysia to seek proposals for development of Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail
Earlier this year, Singapore said it is open to proposals from Malaysia about the project
MyHSR Corporation, a wholly owned of Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance, will be launching a Request For Information (RFI) exercise to enable the private sector to submit concept proposals to develop and operate the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (KL-SG HSR) project via a public-private partnership model.
Local and international firms and consortia can submit their concept proposals. MyHSR Corporation said the RFI exercise will help the Government of Malaysia (GOM) to make informed decisions about the rail project.
“The exercise will allow the GOM to assess the industry’s interest and ability to fully fund the project while evaluating their capabilities in developing this major infrastructure project by looking into areas such as technical specifications, project costing, commercial and business models, as well as consortium and governance framework,” MyHSR Corporation said.
The concept design for Malacca station along the KL-Singapore HSR. (Photo: MyHSR)
The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project will be discontinued after the HSR agreement lapsed on Dec 31, 2020, the Prime Ministers of both countries said in a joint statement on Friday morning (Jan 1). Both Singapore and Malaysia will now proceed with the "necessary actions".
In the statement, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said: "The Government of Malaysia and the Government of Singapore wish to provide an update on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR Project in view of the expiry of the suspension period of the HSR Project on Dec 31, 2020.
"In light of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Malaysian economy, the Government of Malaysia had proposed several changes to the HSR Project. Both Governments had conducted several discussions with regard to these changes and had not been able to reach an agreement. Therefore, the HSR Agreement had lapsed on Dec 31, 2020," the leaders said.
KL-Singapore High Speed Rail terminated after both countries fail to reach agreement on M'sia's proposed changes
The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project has been terminated, after both countries failed to reach an agreement on changes proposed by Malaysia by the deadline of Dec 31.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Muhyiddin Yassin announced this in a joint statement on Friday (Jan 1) morning.
The statement said the Malaysian Government had proposed several changes to the HSR project in the light of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Malaysian economy.
Malaysia will honour KL-Singapore HSR obligations following project's cancellation: Minister
The concept design for Bandar Malaysia station along the KL-Singapore HSR. (Photo: MyHSR)
Malaysia will honour its obligations under the Bilateral Agreement for the cancelled High-Speed Rail (HSR) project, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mustapa Mohamed said on Friday (Jan 1).
The Singapore and Malaysian governments had on Friday announced the termination of the HSR project following the lapse of their agreement on Dec 31, 2020.
“By virtue of the Bilateral Agreement and previously agreed terms, Malaysia will honour its obligations under the Bilateral Agreement. Both countries will initiate the necessary to determine the amount of compensation.”
Malaysia's desire to hasten HSR construction one factor leading to project termination with Singapore
An artist’s impression of the High Speed Rail station in Batu Pahat for the terminated project. PHOTO: EDELMAN
Malaysia wanted to bring forward the start of construction of the High-Speed Rail (HSR) to Singapore by two years, one of several changes for the 350-km link to Kuala Lumpur that resulted in the project being abandoned after Thursday's deadline lapsed.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Muhyiddin Yassin announced the end of the project in a joint statement on Friday (Jan 1) morning.
"Both Governments had conducted several discussions with regard to these changes and had not been able to reach an agreement. Therefore, the HSR Agreement had lapsed on 31 December 2020," it said.
From conception to termination: Timeline of KL-Singapore HSR project over 8 years
An artist's impression of a KL-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) station. (Photo: MyHSR)
It is the end of the line for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project after the Prime Ministers of both countries announced on Friday (Jan 1) that the agreement for the venture had lapsed.
The Singapore Government has since called for Malaysia to compensate it for costs already incurred by Singapore in fulfilling its obligations under the HSR Bilateral Agreement.
The announcement comes as a blow to many who were eagerly anticipating the proposed 350km-long HSR line, which aimed to reduce travel time between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to around 90 minutes by train.
S'pore-KL High Speed Rail Deferred
Singapore-Kuala Lumpur Bullet Train Link Delayed by Four Years
A bullet train linking Singapore and Kuala Lumpur won’t be a reality for at least a decade as Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad seeks to pare his nation’s debt and review projects signed off by his predecessor Najib Razak.
The neighbors agreed to delay kicking off work on the 350-kilometer (218 miles), multibillion dollar link until the end of May 2020, while the first train isn’t likely to ply the route before January 2031, four years later than originally envisioned, according to a joint statement the two governments issued on Wednesday in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Faced with liabilities of more than 1 trillion ringgit ($241 billion), Malaysia has been seeking ways to cut costs and has been pushing to postpone the project aimed at trimming the land journey time between the two cities to 90 minutes, from as long as five hours now. The ongoing international tender will be scrapped in a setback for potential bidders, including those from China and Japan that were keen to gain a slice of the orders.
As compensation for the delay, Malaysia will pay Singapore S$15 million ($11 million) before the end of January 2019, Malaysia’s Minister of Economic Affairs Azmin Ali said. Singapore’s Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said the two countries still remain committed to the project.
10 things to know about the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur high-speed rail
First conceived in 2013, the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur high-speed rail (HSR) has been three years in the making.
Singapore and Malaysia on Tuesday (Dec 13) signed a historic bilateral agreement to build a high-speed rail line with a target to have the trains running by Dec 31, 2026. The rail project has been billed as a "game-changer" that will boost connectivity, strengthen economic ties and forge closer ties between people of both countries
Here are 10 points to note about the HSR project:
- Commencement date - The Express Service, which links Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, is targeted to commence by Dec 31, 2026.
- Eight stations - The line will consist of eight stations, seven of which will be in Malaysia.
- Track will be 350km long - The project will involve the construction of a brand-new line with dedicated tracks, which will allow trains to reach a maximum speed in excess of 300kmh; 335km of the track will be set in Malaysia, with the Singapore stretch spanning 15km.
- Shorter travel time - The HSR is expected to trim travel time to just 90 minutes, compared with the four to five hours needed to travel by road between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
- Three services with two separate operators - There will be an express service between the two terminal stations - Jurong East in Singapore and Bandar Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur; a shorter shuttle service connecting Singapore and Iskandar Puteri in Johor; and a domestic service linking the seven stations in Malaysia.
- Each country is in charge of its own stations and infrastructure - The Singapore and Malaysia governments will be responsible for developing, constructing and maintaining the civil infrastructure and stations within their own countries.
- Implementation of a Bilateral Committee - A bilateral committee will have oversight over all matters that may affect the express and shuttle services.
- Co-located CIQ concept = Both nations have agreed that the Singapore and Malaysia Customs, Immigration & Quarantine (CIQ) facilities will be co-located at three locations - Kuala Lumpur, Iskandar Puteri and Singapore.
- Bridge to link Singapore and Malaysia - The 350km, eight-station line will link both countries via a bridge over the Strait of Johor that is 25m above water level.
- What to see and do up north - Muar otah, Seremban beef noodles and the first Hello Kitty Town outside of Japan will be more accessible once the HSR is in operation.
Kuala Lumpur–Singapore high-speed rail
The Kuala Lumpur–Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) is a proposed railway project to link Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Singapore via a high-speed rail line. It was first proposed by then Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak in September 2010. Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong formally agreed to the joint project in February 2013, with the HSR originally expected to be completed by 2026.
The 2018 Malaysian general election resulted in the defeat of Najib Razak, with his successor Mahathir Mohamad initially announcing that the project would be scrapped. Nevertheless, during a visit to Japan on 12 June 2018, Mahathir said that the project would merely be postponed due to high costs. On 5 September 2018, it was announced that the HSR operations would start in January 2031. Malaysia subsequently underwent a second change in government in the aftermath of the 2020 political crisis, with the Perikatan Nasional coalition coming to power and Muhyiddin Yassin becoming prime minister. A further time extension was requested to review the project, with Singapore agreeing to a deadline of end-2020. The two governments subsequently failed to reach an agreement to continue the project and terminated it on 1 January 2021 in a joint statement.
After 2 years of cancellation, the project has reportedly been revived and the Malaysian government is currently seeking for proposals to restart the project. The proposed HSR line is 350 km long and is expected to reduce travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to 90 minutes. It would start from Bandar Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur and connect to other cities such as Malacca and Seremban along the west coast of West Malaysia en route to Jurong East in Singapore.
China’s High-Speed Railways in Southeast Asia
Indonesia launched Southeast Asia's first high-speed railway on Monday (Oct 2), a delayed, multibillion-dollar project backed by China that President Joko Widodo hailed as "a symbol of our modernisation".
With a top speed of 350 kmh, the bullet train "Whoosh" can get between the capital Jakarta and Bandung in 45 minutes. The 140km journey would previously have taken about three hours by train.
"The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train marks our efficient, friendly, and integrated mass transportation system," Widodo said during a ceremony at the capital's central station. "It is a symbol of our modernisation in the public transport, seamlessly connecting with other modes of transportation."
related:
Malaysia and Singapore dispute over air and sea boundaries
Iskandar Malaysia: Why are the Chinese here?
Malaysia's "gain" and Singapore's "loss"
Malaysia's ECRL touted as a game changer
Embracing, Leaning & Tilting towards China
Mega reclamation project off Johor
Malaysia files for revision of ICJ’s Pulau Batu Puteh decision
Iskandar Malaysia: Why are the Chinese here?
Malaysia's "gain" and Singapore's "loss"
Malaysia's ECRL touted as a game changer
Embracing, Leaning & Tilting towards China
Mega reclamation project off Johor
Malaysia files for revision of ICJ’s Pulau Batu Puteh decision
