KUALA LUMPUR, January 16 – Transport Minister Anthony Loke has stated that the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project remains unaffected despite Japanese firms withdrawing from involvement in its construction. Loke emphasized that the project is still in the Request for Information (RFI) stage, and Japanese companies are free to decide whether to participate. The RFI process is set to conclude soon, after which decisions of interested companies will be known before moving on to the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage.
The minister addressed concerns about potential pressure on Malaysia, stating that the RFI process is conducted openly, and numerous companies have expressed interest. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government would evaluate the impact of Japanese firms’ withdrawal from the HSR project. Japanese news agency Kyodo News reported that the decision to withdraw was attributed to the project’s increased risk without the financial support of the Malaysian government. The development highlights the dynamic nature of the project, with Malaysia continuing to engage with various stakeholders as it progresses through different stages.
