Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri is on a working trip to Thailand and among the topics discussed were the prospects of extending the High-Speed Rail (HSR) route into our northern neighbour.
During a preliminary session, both nations have agreed to carry out a feasibility study linking Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.
The Prime Minister confirmed that an agreement was reached in his meeting with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha at Government House here in conjunction with his first official visit to Thailand. As part of strengthening connectivity under the ASEAN collaboration, both leaders discussed the future need of building a high-speed rail between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, and will be passing on to their respective ministries to work on the paperwork.
The project which in itself has been stopped and resumed now with Ismail Sabri as Prime Minister will see Kuala Lumpur -Singapore travel rekindled with the HSR project. Iniaited by ex Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in 2010, the project was later canceled by Pakatan Harapan, the premature termination ended Malaysia paying huge cancellation fees to Singapore.
Since taking over Putrajaya, Ismail Sabri has revisited the project during his meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who was just as elated on starting discussion on the railway connectivity.
With Thailand now included in the discussion, the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok route sounds much more enticing and could lead to higher load capacity, linking three major economic city in Southeast Asian.
Malaysia and Thailand forged diplomatic ties since 1957, and have been active participants in trade and tourism, this will be further enhanced with agro and halal products moving forward in this post pandemic world.
