THE Perikatan Nasional government is displaying the same inconsistencies as Pakatan Harapan with its flip-flop on the cancellation of the high-speed rail (HSR) project, said Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin.

The former Johor menteri besar said PN has confused the people, with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in June 2020 pledging to continue the project only for it to be cancelled last week.

“PN clearly displays the ever-changing and contradictory commitment and determination, just like the PH government.

“The proof: the prime minister in June 2020 announced Malaysia’s strategy to continue mega projects such as the HSR in an effort to boost the country’s economy, which has been affected by Covid-19.

“This stance was also expressed in the Budget 2021 speech by Minister of Finance Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

“However, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Mustapa Mohamed recently commented that the economic situation affected by Covid-19 forced the government to review the HSR project,” he said in a statement today.

Khaled added that PN was not farsighted because it did not value the relationship developed between Malaysia and Singapore, or how it would eventually benefit the country.

“The Malaysian government does not seem to know what it really wants, or benefit from regional co-operation with Singapore.

“The Malaysian government has not been able to make firm and consistent decisions on cross-border economic integration of the two countries, and even displayed a ‘flip flop’ stance.

“Malaysia is now missing a golden opportunity to further strengthen ties between two metropolises, which are among the main economic engines of Southeast Asia,” Khaled said.

“Increased connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore will result in abundant benefits in terms of economic growth, employment opportunities, business environment, investment attractiveness as well as surpassing the cost of tourism for the infrastructure,” Khaled said.

On January 1, Malaysia and Singapore announced the cancellation of the 350km rail project, after failing to reach an agreement on proposed changes by the December 31, 2020, deadline.

The bilateral agreement for the project’s development, signed with Singapore on December 13, 2016, was intended to encourage economic integration between the two countries.

Khaled also further question if the PN government was intent on cancelling other mega projects due to selfish political reasons.

“Why is the ‘game changer’ project, which should uphold the Malaysian economy, be politicised and changed until it is finally cancelled?

“Will other infrastructure projects that bring various benefits to Malaysians bear the same fate in the hands of the Perikatan Nasional government?” he said. – January 5, 2021.