PUTRAJAYA (July 10): Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia has not given a full notice to Singapore on the planned Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail. This is because Malaysia's decision on the project requires the government to be mindful of the country's finances.

Dr Mahathir justified the delay by Malaysia in formalising the decision on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail by pointing to the need for the government to be “careful about what we say”.

“As far as the Singapore government is concerned, we have not given them a full notice yet, but they know what we want to do. Decisions are not so easy to make. When we make a decision and announce it, the market reacts negatively.

“[But] What we are doing now will ensure that financially, the country is run properly,” Dr Mahathir said at a press conference here today. 

Reporters had today asked Dr Mahathir to respond to Singapore Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan's statement yesterday that Malaysia had not given a formal reply on the project, since Singapore sent a diplomatic note on the matter on June 1 this year.