JOHOR hopes the high-speed rail (HSR) project will continue, even if the new alignment does not include Singapore.

Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad said the termination of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR project, which was announced yesterday, provides an opportunity for the federal government to reevaluate the return on investment.

He is confident the government has a better plan in mind, be it for Johor, as more than 300km of the proposed HSR alignment are in Johor.

Hasni believed if the country were to gain from the project, so would the state.

“Among the things we in Johor hope is that the HSR project would proceed even if it does not include Singapore because I believe it can give direct returns to the economy of the country and Johor.

“This is an opportunity to review the HSR plan, whether on its own, while Malaysia restructures the development of the rail industry,” he told a press conference in Johor Baru today.

He said the Bus Rapid Transit in Iskandar Puteri was also being reviewed to see whether the light rail transit service could replace it to complement the rail communication system in Johor.

He said the state government has not ruled out Singapore’s participation in the investment aspect, even though the new alignment will not involve the republic.

After all, he said, the HSR will also benefit Singaporeans who are in Malaysia.

The Benut rep also hoped the state government would be allowed to participate in any new HSR discussions.

“We hope any new discussions involving the project will also take into account Johor’s views, to ensure the people of this state would benefit from its implementation,” he said.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mustapa Mohamed said a detailed study would be conducted on a domestic HSR project, including its feasibility and benefits to the people. – Bernama, January 2, 2021.