Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan said Malaysia was seriously committed to the KL-SG HSR and had researched and analysed the project extensively.

He said the government understood the impact, benefits and risks to the country, as background work on the project had begun in 2011.

“Only recently, after much work and deliberation, did the government proceed to develop the HSR project with Singapore,” Rahman said in a statement today, adding that the government would give due consideration to all feedback from members of the public concerning the project.

“I hope the Opposition will not politicise this issue and distract the good relationship between both countries,” Rahman said.

The KL-SG HSR project, he said, while complicated and extensive, was expected to benefit Malaysia economically, socially and technologically.

It would reduce travel time between Greater KL and Singapore to 90 minutes and strengthen links between two of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and fastest-growing economic engines.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) impact resulting from construction, operations, ancillary services, and indirect multiplier benefits such as tourism and property appreciation would be about RM100 billion.

The wider economic benefits leveraged from the HSR project were conservatively estimated at an additional RM21 billion of GDP in 2060, with 111,000 jobs created, based on a World Bank study on other international projects.

In addition, Rahman said the HSR presented an opportunity to rejuvenate smaller cities in Peninsular Malaysia by connecting them to the two major metropolises, as most at present were not served by KTMB’s double-track project.

The HSR agreement between Malaysia and Singapore is scheduled to be signed in Putrajaya next week, with more details expected to be announced then.