Hidden costs much higher than actual project cost

Blame game: It is hard to fathom that Prasarana would dare upscale the design of the LRT3 significantly without the tacit approval of the key officials from the previous government.

CONSIDERING the fact that the real cost of the two rail projects that are being implemented has ballooned, it should not surprise anybody if the cost of completing the prestigious high-speed rail (HSR) project running between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore is more than RM100bil.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has said the HSR would cost some RM110bil, something that the Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, echoes. Azmin has said there are “hidden costs” in implementing the HSR.