KUALA LUMPUR: The government is planning to revive the high-speed rail (HSR) network between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore (KL-SG HSR).
MyHSR Corporation Sdn Bhd (MyHSR Corp), a company wholly owned by the Minister of Finance (Incorporated) and established to oversee the project, has invited private companies to submit fresh proposals for the rail project.A MyHSR advertisement in The Star newspaper today states that there are plans by the government to improve intercity mobility, with a view of generating socio-economic development through reduced journey time, safe and seamless travel and enhanced accessibility for second and third-tier cities.
MyHSR Corp is now soliciting concept proposals from local and international industry players to assess their readiness and capabilities, while gathering innovative business models and supplementary revenue-stream ideas for a privately funded structure - that includes the governance framework.
In its pre-Covid-19 iteration, the KL-SG HSR stretched across six states and territories – Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya, Negri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor, before crossing the Tebrau Strait into Singapore’s Jurong East.Using state-of-the-art rolling stocks, the 350km distance from Bandar Malaysia to Jurong East could be completed in no more than 90 minutes through a non-stop service.
Transit service will run parallel to serve future growth centres in Bandar Malaysia, Sepang-Putrajaya, Seremban, Ayer Keroh, Muar, Batu Pahat and Iskandar Puteri.
In March this year, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the government received some overtures from the private sector to revive the project, but none of the offers were sufficiently concrete or attractive at that point.
“The KL-SG HSR project will bring tremendous benefit to the people, particularly in enhancing and expanding economic dynamism from the Klang Valley to the southern corridor of the peninsula and to the rest of Malaysia.
“In addition to providing a new travel option that is safer, faster, more efficient and sustainable, the project will help us generate long-term growth and sustainability for the people and the nation,” said Datuk Seri Fauzi Abdul Rahman, the newly-appointed chairman of MyHSR Corp, in a statement yesterday.
Likewise, Datuk Mohd Nur Ismal Kamal, CEO of MyHSR Corp, appealed for high-quality proposals that would be an important reference for the government’s decision on the best way forward.
“The RFI exercise marks the government’s initiative to reactivate the KL-SG HSR project via new funding mechanisms and implementation models to invigorate the national economy.
“MyHSR Corp remains committed to supporting the government to identify the most effective solution to revive the KL-SG HSR project. Globally, developments of HSR have proven to be growth engines, bringing about catalytic development and growth as well as multiplier effects that benefit all walks of life,” said Mohd Nur.
The briefing for the project will take place at the Finance Ministry office in Putrajaya on July 27, with more information available from www.myhsr.com.my/rfi.
