Malaysia and Singapore to announce details of HSR ahead of Dec 31 deadline

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 3): Malaysia and Singapore will announce further details on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project in due course, the Prime Ministers of the two countries said today.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his Singapore counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, said this in a joint press statement yesterday after they held a video conference call.

They said the discussions were held in view of the Dec 31 deadline for the second and final extension of the suspension of the HSR project.

"The Prime Ministers took stock of the progress of discussions, and gained a good understanding of Malaysia’s and Singapore’s respective positions,” the statement read. “Both sides will announce further details on the HSR project through a joint statement in due course."  

"Both Prime Ministers also reaffirmed the strong bilateral relations between the two countries covering many areas of cooperation and the sincere desire to further strengthen these relations for mutual benefit," it added.

Recent news reports indicated that Malaysia may proceed with the project without Singapore’s participation by having the line end at Johor Bahru instead of Singapore.

However, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed stressed last Friday that the two countries were still in negotiations with regard to the proposals presented by Malaysia to improve the project.

He said an announcement will be made after a decision has been reached.

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