Finance Minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan said that Malaysia’s current focus is on completing and further developing its existing transport links. - Photo: ST
On July 20, Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that negotiations with Singapore on the HSR project could only be initiated after the Cabinet makes a policy decision on the feasibility of the RM100 billion project by the end of the fourth quarter. In July 2024, Singapore transport minister Chee Hong Tat told Parliament that the Republic has not received any new proposal from Malaysia for a high-speed rail line between the city state and Kuala Lumpur, but is willing to discuss it “in good faith, starting from a clean slate”.
Meanwhile, construction of nearly three-quarters of the ECRL project has been completed as of October 2024. The first phase of the ECRL, which will connect Gombak, Selangor, to Kota Bahru, Kelantan, will shorten passengers’ journey from Kota Bahru, Kelantan to Gombak, Selangor from 7 hours by road to 4 hours by train.
Some RM750 million has been allocated for the public transport sector under Malaysia’s Budget 2025.This includes the procurement of a fleet of 895 electric buses for feeder services in the greater Kuala Lumpur capital city area.