KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 — Malaysia is set to make a crucial decision on the high-speed rail (HSR) link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore by the end of the year, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke. In an interview with Bloomberg, Loke revealed that the Malaysian Cabinet will evaluate the viability of the multibillion-dollar project in the fourth quarter, with three out of seven consortiums shortlisted for the proposal.
Loke highlighted that the government aims to award the project to a group that is at least 51% owned by Malaysian firms, with YTL Corp., Berjaya Land Bhd, and China Railway Construction Corporation among the shortlisted bidders. The HSR project, initially approved in 2013 but later scrapped, could reduce travel time between the two cities to 90 minutes. While the estimated cost is up to RM100 billion, Loke noted it could be lower depending on the proposal and emphasized the government’s preference for private sector involvement without increasing national debt.
