KL - Singapore High-Speed Rail Cancelled

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong once described the proposed KL-Singapore High-speed Rail project as a 'game changer' to the region. Sadly, the much hyped project is now cancelled following the joint-statement from both countries on the 1st of January 2021. What a terrible news to start the new year!

The stumbling block to seal the deal was mainly due to both sides were unable to reach a consensus on a number of issues. The project was initially estimated to cost about US$14.9 billion to $19.8 billion. Malaysian government seemingly wished to reduce the cost following the devastation to its economy in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The main drawcard of 350km long project is the substantial reduction in travel time to just 90 minutes compared to 4 hours by car. Official estimates show that the project could contribute about $5 billion dollars to the GDP of both Malaysia and Singapore and create more than 100,000 jobs by 2060.

The major disagreement is Malaysian government's proposed to appoint local contractors and consultants instead of having a jointly conducted open tenders process previously agreed. Singapore also cannot accept the Malaysian government's proposal to remove the third party asset company that would supply the train system and operate the railway network. As both countries have no previous experience of operating a high-speed rail network, Singapore cannot agree to the removal of the asset company.

Historically, rail projects have proved to be successful in spurring developments along the path of the networks. This project will not only benefit Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, but will serve as a powerful locomotive to bring up and stimulate developments around the various Malaysian towns along the way.

Some analysts believed that the project's termination will further erode investors' confidence towards the Malaysian government. Malaysian politics has been in an unstable situation since the Sheraton Movement Coup in February 2020.

新加坡总理李显龙曾经预测吉隆坡-新加坡高铁项目将为东南亚带来巨大好处。令人遗憾的是，在2021年1月1日两国最终宣布这个项目已被取消。新的一年却由一个坏消息开始！

双方政府无法在一些问题上达成共识。该项目最初估计耗资约149亿美元至198亿美元。由于新冠肺炎大流行，马来西亚政府似乎希望在2020年经济遭受重创后降低建筑成本。长达350公里的高铁主要吸引力在于，它将行程大幅减少至90分钟，而目前驾车则需要4小时多。官方估计显示，到2060年，该项目可为马来西亚和新加坡的GDP贡献约50亿美元，并创造10万多个就业机会。

历史告诉我们，铁路项目已成功地促进了沿网络道路的发展。该项目不仅会使吉隆坡和新加坡受益，还将会带动并刺激沿途的所有在马来西亚的各个城镇的发展。

一些分析人士就因这次事件认为，该项目的终止将进一步削弱投资者对马来西亚政府的信心。自2020年2月喜来登政变以来，马来西亚政治一直处于不稳定局面。

China Continues To Expand Its Rail Network

China's railways will expand by about 3,700 kilometers in 2021. Travel by rail will be more popular especially with the current travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 Pandemic worldwide.

中国计划在2021年将国内铁路增长约3700公里。尤其在目前由于Covid-19大流行的情况下，国际航线严重受到打击，铁路旅行将会在未来更加受欢迎。

China's Electric Tram

Quick charge! A self-driving super capacitor tram has rolled off the production line in China’s Hunan. This eco-friendly tram can run for 5km after charging for only 30s! With a capacity of 500 passengers and a maximum speed of 70km/h, it will operate at Kunming Changshui International Airport.

Housing Along Transit Line

With the Penang State Government pushing for the Transport Master Plan to be implemented as a matter of urgency; we could soon see housing blocks emerge more densely along the public transport route mainly from Komtar to the airport or more commonly known as the Bayan Lepas LRT Line. 

This will involve the local town planning guidelines to be modified to cater for future demands of housing along the route as the lower income group residents would like to live near public transport for convenience and economic reasons. When fully implemented; Penang's skyline will significantly be altered or evolved to reflect this latest development.

Official announcement of incentives for developers who are willing to work together with the government in making this idea a reality as follow:

Penang State Government will establish a new guideline, Transit Oriented Development or better known as TOD in its efforts to complement and encourage housing development near Light Rapid Transit (LRT) service areas and public bus stations.

State Housing, Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said that in line with that goal, he asked Plan Malaysia and the two local councils to draft and provide TOD guidelines for Penang.  

“I have directed the Penang City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) to immediately prepare this draft taking into account aspects and jurisdictions of other countries that have practiced it.

“I expect both local authorities to prepare the first draft as early as the first quarter of next year (2020), so developers have time to plan for their housing project in the affected area,” he told a recent media conference here.

Also present was the Chief Minister, Y.A.B. Mr. Chow Kon Yeow, Pengkalan Kota State Assemblyman, Daniel Gooi Zi Sen and Jelutong Member of Parliament, R.S.N. Rayer.

Based on the LRT development project along the Komtar line to Bayan Lepas, there are 27 main stations of Phase 1 involving the construction of 20 stations from Komtar to Island A (Penang South Reclamation project, PSR) and Phase 2 (seven stations linking islands A, B and C).

Commenting on the new guidelines to be introduced, Jagdeep said that the State Government would give priority and incentives to developers developing housing schemes using the TOD method along those lines.

“As we all know, a total of 102,335 units of low-cost (LC), low-medium cost (LMC) and affordable (RMM) houses have been achieved so far involving various stages of preparation.

“To achieve Penang 2030 Vision, I have set a new target of 180,000 LC, LMC, RMM, with the remaining 78,000 units needed to be built by 2030.

“The development of the 78,000 units will follow this guideline based method (TOD) … we will also make major adjustments to the amount of parking allowed later in encouraging the public to use public transport while reducing vehicles and carbon footprints, thus making Penang more green, safe and sustainable, ”said Datuk Keramat assemblyman.

In addition, Jagdeep also expects public bus users by 2030 will increase to 30 percent on the island and 40 percent (Seberang).

“Based on the current ratio, the use of public buses is only four percent on the island and eight percent (Seberang).

“As such, we will try to identify more strategic locations for developing bus stations,” he said, adding that there are 1,711 bus stations throughout Penang with 404 rapid bus services on 71 routes.

Source: Buletin Mutiara