KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): With the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project being scrapped, it has been reported that a number of projects are being “mooted” for the land in Jurong that was meant for the mega transport system.

According to a report by Channel News Asia (CNA), private homes, community facilities and even a retirement village have been suggested.

The Singapore broadcaster stated that such developments “will be in line with the overarching transformation plans for the western region of Singapore, they said, notably to turn Jurong Lake District into a second central business district in future”.

The city state previously acquired two land parcels for the mega-rail project, one being the former Jurong Country Club site of 67ha.

The second parcel is made up of the former Raffles Country Club site of 143ha. It was reported that “part of it” was earmarked for the Integrated Train Testing Centre.

According to Singapore’s National Development Ministry, “These land parcels continue to be needed to realise our overall vision for Jurong Lake District, which is not affected by the termination of the HSR project. We will study the appropriate mix of uses for the parts of the land parcels initially set aside for the HSR to ensure that they tie in with the surroundings."

CNA reported that the 360ha Jurong Lake District “has been positioned to be the country’s largest mixed-use business district outside the city centre”.

Earlier this year, developers, investors and businesses were invited to provide the city state’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) with ideas for the Jurong Lake District.

The KL-Spore HSR project met a dead end on Jan 1 after an agreement lapsed on Dec 31, 2020.

Putrajaya ended up paying more than S$102.8 million (RM320 million) in compensation for costs incurred for the development and in relation to the extension of its suspension to the republic.

The two countries reached an amicable agreement on the amount, following a verification process by the Malaysian government.

This amount represents a full and final settlement in relation to the termination of the Bilateral Agreement on the HSR project on Dec 31, 2020.

On Jan 4, the republic’s Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung said the termination compensation involving the HSR project would include various abortive costs, but not land acquisition costs since the value of the land could be recovered.

He said Singapore had spent more than S$270 million on the project.

"Some of these costs, such as for consultancy services, design of infrastructure, and manpower to deliver the project, are abortive costs if the project does not proceed," he said in Singapore’s Parliament.

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