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Singapore "surprised" by Malaysia's remarks on high-speed rail

Xinhua, June 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

Singapore's Ministry of Transport (MOT) on Friday said it was "surprised" that the recent statement of Malaysia's Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) that it preferred to terminate the upcoming high-speed rail (HSR) terminus at the two nations' existing CIQ (customs, immigration and quarantine) complex in Johor Bahru.

A MOT statement said leaders of the two countries have announced that the HSR terminus in Singapore will be located at Jurong East during Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' Retreat in May, and the location was also announced to the public at the joint press conference by the two prime ministers following the Retreat.

MOT is thus surprised by SPAD's saying that Malaysia preferred to terminate the HSR at Johor Bahru.

"Our understanding is that Malaysia views the commercial premise of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR project, and with which we agree, as being based on a direct connection between the two city centers. Terminating the HSR in Johor Bahru will not achieve this objective," said MOT's spokesperson.

The High Speed Rail project between Singapore and Malaysia was agreed upon in 2013, which aims to cut down on travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to just 90 minutes. Endi