Malaysia and Singapore have yet to agree on key elements that can affect the multibillion-dollar high-speed rail project that can connect the island nation to Kuala Lumpur.
In recent weeks, Japanese and Chinese government officials, together with private-sector rail industry representatives, have been lobbying the Malaysian government and key transportation agencies to push through their plans to construct the 350-kilometer section.
At a recent high-speed rail symposium within the Malaysian capital, Japanese Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, Agriculture and Tourism Keiichi Ishii said: “There have been no fatal accidents involving the Shinkansen bullet train system up to now 52 years,” demonstrating its prime quality and stability.
“The operating and infrastructure costs of the shinkansen are relatively low, which helps achieve the goal of (minimal) production and recycling costs and even profitability,” he added.
The 350-kilometer high-speed rail project should connect Kuala Lumpur with Singapore in only 90 minutes, in line with an agreement signed by the 2 Southeast Asian countries in July 2016. Both countries plan to start operations in 2026.
“The high-speed rail not only connects Malaysia and Singapore, but also serves as a hub for ASEAN countries,” Ishii said, referring to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which each countries are members. He noted that the rail project will even be key to promoting the economies surrounding it.
China has used more force. According to Malaysian government officials, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang wrote a private letter to Prime Minister Najib Razak last month reiterating Beijing’s commitment to its investments in Malaysia, which include real estate and infrastructure development. He also stressed China’s deep interest in securing the high-speed rail project.
“This project is a game-changer, with visits and meetings (from the Chinese and Japanese) becoming very frequent, and all discussions inevitably focusing on HSR (high-speed rail),” said a transport industry executive involved in planning the project, which can cut travel time between the 2 cities from greater than six hours by regular train to 90 minutes.
Japan has long played a significant role within the economic development of many Southeast Asian nations. Meanwhile, China has already begun laying the muse for a pan-Asian rail network that can stretch from Kunming in southern China to Singapore.
Source: South China Morning Post | Nikkei Thing | Strait Times
