HSR to be postponed for two years

Singapore and Malaysia appear to have reached a compromise over the implementation of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project, as reported by Asia One.

The move to postpone will see Malaysia being spared a RM500 million penalty for a two-year deferral of the project, which will be in effect until May 31, 2020. The original agreement to build the HSR, which was signed in 2016, did not contain provisions for a postponement.

Malaysia’s Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali had been in negotiations with Singapore’s Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan last month to reach a compromise.

Datuk Seri Azmin had also referred to the meeting on Facebook and said the countries were “inching closer to a win-win deal on HSR”.

On Aug 30, Khaw Boon Wan also said on Facebook that he had met Azmin Ali and 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,” added Khaw, who is also Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure, referring to the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS). — Construction+ Online