Ridiculous to revive HSR after compensating Singapore RM320m, says ex-finance minister
Malaysia has become a global laughing stock for suggesting the revival of a High Speed Rail (HSR) link with Singapore that it previously paid the island-state RM320 million to terminate, said former finance minister Lim Guan Eng.
(MMO) – The Bagan MP also warned that the project could be vulnerable to a lack of transparency and accountability, noting that Singapore’s transport minister Ong Ye Kung previously alleged the Malaysian government wanted to bypass the jointly-tendered asset company.
“Ong added that through an open and transparent international tender, the AssetCo would have ensured accountability to both countries. Clearly this lack of commitment to transparency and open tenders by the Malaysian government is disappointing.
“Will (Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Ismail Sabri Yaakob now conform to open tenders and transparency under the revived KL-Singapore HSR as well as ensure that the cost structure is not excessive and disadvantageous to Malaysia?” Lim said in a statement today.
