KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said that it was not the right time and would be a waste of resources to revive the Malaysia-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) project as it only covers a relatively short distance.
The former prime minister said that paying the hefty compensation of RM320 million to neighbouring Singapore already put the country behind, adding that after some thought, the HSR to cover a span of 200km may not actually be needed in the country.
“If you want to make the HSR popular, it must go a further distance. If it is a short distance, the time saved is very minimal. If you’re going to travel only 200km, that’s not much time that you save.
“So, why should people travel on an expensive train when they can travel by road or by other trains? When you want a HSR, it should go a long distance, say from Singapore to Penang, or Alor Setar, or the border of Thailand,” he said during a virtual discussion with the media.
He said that Malaysians prefer driving in the country when going long distances, as compared to taking the train, adding that the government needs to weigh the usefulness of the HSR and the needs of the country.
“If you find that the country does not need it yet, then don’t do it. The HSR is going to travel within Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. It’s a very short distance, not much time saved.
“You can also fly, drive, so this is a very big investment,” he said, adding that the revival of the HSR also signals the revival of corruption in politics.
On January 1, Malaysia and Singapore jointly announced the termination of the HSR project as both countries failed to reach an agreement on changes proposed by Malaysia before the project agreement lapsed on December 31, 2020.
Later in March, Malaysia announced that it had paid S$102.8 million (RM318.45 million) to Singapore for costs incurred for the development of the HSR project and in relation to the extension of its suspension.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2021/12/07/dr-mahathir-reviving-hsr-singapore-now-a-waste-unneeded-due-to-short-distan/2026669
Created by savemalaysia | Sep 01, 2024
Created by savemalaysia | Sep 01, 2024
Created by savemalaysia | Sep 01, 2024
Created by savemalaysia | Sep 01, 2024
Created by savemalaysia | Sep 01, 2024
HSR if really needed, should just has last terminal in JB. Why should we foot the bill for the convenience of foreign country, and yet has no final say? Singapore is just piggyback at the expense of Malaysian tax payers, building just 16 km within the island including the bridge (not sure who pay for the bridge) and yet have the gut to ask for more than 300 million 'compensation'. If you calculate on number of man-hour Singapore had put in (say 10k man-hour), very likely each man-hour Singapore was charging us RM 30,000. Does Singaporean command so high salary that every hour worth rm 30,000?
My suggestion is, if really need service of HSR, let starts from Butterworth, and ends in Nusajaya,JB.
2021-12-07 19:01
Let me share some insight
1. China was backward 40 years ago.
I remember my family even sent money and canned food to China relatives
Today China is criss crossed by Hsr almost round the earth circumference in length yet Malaysia cannot build a short Kl - Spore Hsr
2. Kl - Spore Hsr should be the starter
If still don't start then when?
It could be connected later from Kl to Bangkok
2021-12-07 21:03
3. If Hsr only ends at Johor it negates two things
I) Where got economy of scale without affluent passengers from Spore? Many Hsr in China are operating below cost. Without Spore the Hsr will incur losses from day one and might turn out to be a white elephant
Ii) Hsr connecting Spore to Kl will bring in the World's tourist as Spore is an Air Hub to the world
From Spore arriving Air passengers can take Hsr straight to Kl
This will boost tourism and the economy of Kl
Plus Johor, Batu Pahat, Melaka and Putra Jaya will benefit
It is known that lands near Japan Shinkansen Hsr rises 46% in value when high speed train is built
The economic benefits outweight the cost
2021-12-07 21:10
It is a real shame that nations less develop like Indonesia, Tibet and Laos are having Hsr while Malaysia falls behind
Are we going to continue falling behind Laos, then Myanmar, then North Korea?
2021-12-07 21:14
Well said Calvin.
That old man has lost his Midas Touch. Why can't he just retire and RIP?
2021-12-07 21:14
True loh...why do not want to extend to spore leh ??
Spore got more lucrative customers and also bigger volume of customers mah!
If Hsr only ends at Johor it negates two things
I) Where got economy of scale without affluent passengers from Spore? Many Hsr in China are operating below cost. Without Spore the Hsr will incur losses from day one and might turn out to be a white elephant
Ii) Hsr connecting Spore to Kl will bring in the World's tourist as Spore is an Air Hub to the world
From Spore arriving Air passengers can take Hsr straight to Kl
This will boost tourism and the economy of Kl
Plus Johor, Batu Pahat, Melaka and Putra Jaya will benefit
It is known that lands near Japan Shinkansen Hsr rises 46% in value when high speed train is built
The economic benefits outweight the cost.
U NEED TO THINK STRATEGICALLY LOH...!!
SPORE IS WILLING TO SHARE THE OPERATIONS OF HSR 50:50 BASIS, BUT IT WANT TO ENSURE THE HSR IS RUN VERY EFFICIENTLY SO THAT HSR NOT ONLY NOT TO LOSE MONIES BUT CAN MAKE MONIES MAH (UNLIKE MOST OF THE MSIA PUBLIC TRANSPORT LOSS ALOT OF MONIES MAH!].
MSIA GOVT SHOULD JUMP INTO THIS GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY WORKING & LEARNING WITH THIS HIGHLY EFFICIENT SPORE PARTNER MAH!
Posted by ks55 > Dec 7, 2021 7:01 PM | Report Abuse
HSR if really needed, should just has last terminal in JB. Why should we foot the bill for the convenience of foreign country, and yet has no final say? Singapore is just piggyback at the expense of Malaysian tax payers, building just 16 km within the island including the bridge (not sure who pay for the bridge) and yet have the gut to ask for more than 300 million 'compensation'. If you calculate on number of man-hour Singapore had put in (say 10k man-hour), very likely each man-hour Singapore was charging us RM 30,000. Does Singaporean command so high salary that every hour worth rm 30,000?
My suggestion is, if really need service of HSR, let starts from Butterworth, and ends in Nusajaya,JB.
2021-12-08 13:09
AFTER THAT CAN FURTHER EXTEND TO PENANG & BANGKOK MAH!
THIS IS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO INTEGRATE 130 MILLION POPULATIONS THROUGH HSR MAH!
THAT MEANS ABOUT 1000KM RAIL ARE PUT TO GOOD USE INSTEAD OF JUST ABOUT 250 KM LOH...!!
True loh...why do not want to extend to spore leh ??
Spore got more lucrative customers and also bigger volume of customers mah!
If Hsr only ends at Johor it negates two things
I) Where got economy of scale without affluent passengers from Spore? Many Hsr in China are operating below cost. Without Spore the Hsr will incur losses from day one and might turn out to be a white elephant
Ii) Hsr connecting Spore to Kl will bring in the World's tourist as Spore is an Air Hub to the world
From Spore arriving Air passengers can take Hsr straight to Kl
This will boost tourism and the economy of Kl
Plus Johor, Batu Pahat, Melaka and Putra Jaya will benefit
It is known that lands near Japan Shinkansen Hsr rises 46% in value when high speed train is built
The economic benefits outweight the cost.
U NEED TO THINK STRATEGICALLY LOH...!!
SPORE IS WILLING TO SHARE THE OPERATIONS OF HSR 50:50 BASIS, BUT IT WANT TO ENSURE THE HSR IS RUN VERY EFFICIENTLY SO THAT HSR NOT ONLY NOT TO LOSE MONIES BUT CAN MAKE MONIES MAH (UNLIKE MOST OF THE MSIA PUBLIC TRANSPORT LOSS ALOT OF MONIES MAH!].
MSIA GOVT SHOULD JUMP INTO THIS GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY WORKING & LEARNING WITH THIS HIGHLY EFFICIENT SPORE PARTNER MAH!
2021-12-08 13:13
gomen still got $$$ for HSR?? print myr like USD, then become toilet paper?? wakaka
2021-12-08 14:02
Musang King
Yes, If Spore Govt wants the HSR back, ask them to pay us back the RM318.45 Millions we paid foolishly during the PH Regime.
2021-12-07 18:44