Railway reset would strain Malaysia-Singapore ties
A proposed Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail link may ultimately not include Singapore at all
Source: Oxford Analytica; KTMB; media reports
Outlook
A review of the HSR project is due to be completed by the end of this month; the Malaysian and Singaporean prime ministers held a teleconference about the scheme yesterday. The two countries managed to resolve differences over the RTS Link, but negotiations over the HSR have been more challenging. Reports suggest Malaysia now wants the line to end in Johor Bahru.
The HSR promises to reduce travelling time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to 90 minutes, compared with four to five hours by road.
Malaysia excluding Singapore from the HSR would reduce the utility of the line and dampen bilateral ties.
Impacts
- Malaysia will have to compensate Singapore if it proceeds with the HSR alone.
- Ongoing political instability in Malaysia could lead to further delays to the HSR and RTS Link projects.
- In the long term, the RTS Link should help ease road traffic on the Johor-Singapore Causeway.