Singapore Business Times 09 Aug 2006
Mahathir cool towards KL-S'pore bullet train plan
M'sian population not big enough for two train companies, he says
By PAULINE NG
IN KUALA LUMPUR
FORMER Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has poured cold water on the current administration's plan for a possible bullet train linking Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.
He said Malaysia did not have a big enough population to support two railway companies - one proposed by YTL Corp and the other, current national railway company Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM).
It is not the first time YTL has proposed a fast train to link the capitals of the two countries. Some eight years ago, YTL's proposal for a bullet train between both capitals was rejected by Dr Mahathir.
Recently, the power, infrastructure and property company floated the proposal again - but this time under PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's so-called private finance initiative.
Dr Mahathir, who is now on the warpath with Mr Abdullah, said he did not have the details, or whether the train would even go to Singapore. 'It was proposed during my time, but it was not yet suitable. Maybe now it is suitable.' Asked why the project was not implemented, he replied: 'There were problems. It's difficult to elaborate, lah.'
Mr Abdullah's administration, which wants to turn South Johor into a special economic zone, has been warmer to the high-speed train idea. The Transport Ministry has already given YTL the go-ahead for a feasibility study of the project, which if implemented would shorten the 325km journey to 90 minutes, compared to over six hours now.
While YTL has been the first to go public with its intention, Mr Abdullah said other companies have also expressed their interest in a similar plan and would be invited to submit their proposals as well.
Singapore's Ministry of Transport has said both governments have not held any discussions on YTL's proposal.
Critics of YTL's RM8 billion (S$3.4 billion) train initiative have already panned it as too costly, and harmful to the interests of various national companies such as Malaysia Airlines and toll road operator Plus. It would also likely spell the demise of KTM.
Dr Mahathir said Malaysia could have only one train firm. 'Well, you can't have two train services; you can have only one. Of course, in Japan, they have so many train services - but they have 130 million people.' Malaysia has 26 million people.
Dr Mahathir had approved a plan to double-track the national railway grid for a staggering RM14.5 billion prior to stepping down in 2003, but it was shelved by Mr Abdullah.
His reversal of Dr Mahathir's decision along with other policy U-turns - particularly the scrapping of the proposed bridge to replace the Causeway between Malaysia and Singapore - has greatly irked Dr Mahathir, who has labelled the present administration as 'gutless' and 'half-past-six'.
Dr Mahathir has intensified his attacks on his successor in recent weeks, accusing Mr Abdullah's son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin of being the real power behind the throne.
On Monday, Dr Mahathir indicated that Mr Abdullah should not complete his first term, which will expire by 2009. 'If we have a prime minister who sold the country, why wait for five years? We have to take early action. If he sold the country, there's no need to wait five years. We must not always say we support the prime minister.'
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