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10-04-14, 17:23
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/premium/top-stories/pm-lee-jurong-east-very-attractive-option-20140410
Published April 10, 2014
PM Lee: Jurong East a 'very attractive' option
Govt is studying it as a possible site for the S'pore-KL High Speed Rail station
By Lee U-Wen [email protected]
[SINGAPORE] Siting the terminal station of the planned High Speed Rail (HSR) linking Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in Jurong East is a "very attractive" option that the Singapore government is currently studying, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
"I have told (Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak), in Singapore we have three sites possible, but Jurong East is one very attractive one which we are considering," said Mr Lee at the Istana during a roundtable discussion with a group of newspaper editors on Tuesday.
The full transcript of the closed-door session, organised by the Bangkok-based Asia News Network (ANN), was released by Mr Lee's office last night.
Earlier in the week after his annual retreat with Mr Najib in Putrajaya, Mr Lee had revealed that the three sites being considered in Singapore were Jurong East, Tuas West and the city centre.
Mr Najib, meanwhile, confirmed that Malaysia will host its terminal station in Bandar Malaysia near Sungai Besi.
In the ANN interview, Mr Lee stressed that there was much work still to be done as the HSR project takes shape.
"Many aspects have to be studied and discussed and agreed upon. But if we can get the High Speed Rail between Singapore and KL built, whether it is (by) 2020 or whether it is a bit later, I think it will make a very big difference to the connection between two very vibrant cities, in the way you can do business together, in the way you can travel up (and) down, the convenience of it," he said.
Singapore and Malaysia have set a 2020 deadline to complete the 320km to 340km rail project, which will shuttle passengers from Singapore to KL in just 90 minutes.
Key areas such as how the HSR will be built, the engineering involved, the financing models, governance and legal framework have all yet to be worked out, said Mr Lee.
"These are all very complicated to do even in one country, but to do in two countries, and to work it all out in what would be quite a compressed time frame, I think will test our teams," he said.
When asked by a Malaysian editor if Singapore and Malaysia would select a committee to run the project or if a private company would do so, Mr Lee would only say that this was another issue that would need to be addressed.
In the wide-ranging session, Mr Lee was quizzed on issues including the political turmoil in Thailand, the haze problem that plagues South-east Asia every year, and his experience with the use of social media such as Facebook.
When asked about his own political future and how long he planned to remain as Singapore's prime minister, Mr Lee said that leaders should stay as long as they are able to make a contribution.
"In Singapore, we pay a lot of attention to succession planning and making sure that we have a new team ready, and new leaders who are capable of taking charge, so that the country can move ahead and the leaders can be in sync with the country," he said.
"I can't say exactly how long I am staying, but I am 62 years old and that's not young," said Mr Lee.
Published April 10, 2014
PM Lee: Jurong East a 'very attractive' option
Govt is studying it as a possible site for the S'pore-KL High Speed Rail station
By Lee U-Wen [email protected]
[SINGAPORE] Siting the terminal station of the planned High Speed Rail (HSR) linking Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in Jurong East is a "very attractive" option that the Singapore government is currently studying, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
"I have told (Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak), in Singapore we have three sites possible, but Jurong East is one very attractive one which we are considering," said Mr Lee at the Istana during a roundtable discussion with a group of newspaper editors on Tuesday.
The full transcript of the closed-door session, organised by the Bangkok-based Asia News Network (ANN), was released by Mr Lee's office last night.
Earlier in the week after his annual retreat with Mr Najib in Putrajaya, Mr Lee had revealed that the three sites being considered in Singapore were Jurong East, Tuas West and the city centre.
Mr Najib, meanwhile, confirmed that Malaysia will host its terminal station in Bandar Malaysia near Sungai Besi.
In the ANN interview, Mr Lee stressed that there was much work still to be done as the HSR project takes shape.
"Many aspects have to be studied and discussed and agreed upon. But if we can get the High Speed Rail between Singapore and KL built, whether it is (by) 2020 or whether it is a bit later, I think it will make a very big difference to the connection between two very vibrant cities, in the way you can do business together, in the way you can travel up (and) down, the convenience of it," he said.
Singapore and Malaysia have set a 2020 deadline to complete the 320km to 340km rail project, which will shuttle passengers from Singapore to KL in just 90 minutes.
Key areas such as how the HSR will be built, the engineering involved, the financing models, governance and legal framework have all yet to be worked out, said Mr Lee.
"These are all very complicated to do even in one country, but to do in two countries, and to work it all out in what would be quite a compressed time frame, I think will test our teams," he said.
When asked by a Malaysian editor if Singapore and Malaysia would select a committee to run the project or if a private company would do so, Mr Lee would only say that this was another issue that would need to be addressed.
In the wide-ranging session, Mr Lee was quizzed on issues including the political turmoil in Thailand, the haze problem that plagues South-east Asia every year, and his experience with the use of social media such as Facebook.
When asked about his own political future and how long he planned to remain as Singapore's prime minister, Mr Lee said that leaders should stay as long as they are able to make a contribution.
"In Singapore, we pay a lot of attention to succession planning and making sure that we have a new team ready, and new leaders who are capable of taking charge, so that the country can move ahead and the leaders can be in sync with the country," he said.
"I can't say exactly how long I am staying, but I am 62 years old and that's not young," said Mr Lee.