Najib: Cuts won’t affect HSR, MRT and LRT projects

KUALA LUMPUR: The reduction in the Government’s expenditure will not affect the country’s major rail projects such as the high speed rail (HSR) link to Singapore, mass rapid transit (MRT) and light rail transit (LRT), said the Prime Minister.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Government remained committed to transforming the land public transport industry, in order to meet the goal of having 40% of commuters in Peninsular Malaysia using public transport by 2030.

“Even in these challenging economic times, we have structured the reduction in Government expenditure such that it will not affect public service delivery, and the development projects under the 11th Malaysia Plan.

“Key infrastructure projects such as the High-Speed Rail link to Singapore; the MRT, and LRT, are all still going ahead,” Najib said when opening a symposium on land public transportation here that was organised by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).

Najib said the Government had spent more than RM70bil to improve land public transportation since 2010.

On the HSR project, Najib said Malaysia and Singapore had already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in June.

“The MoU sets in place the foundation of this project, which will be sealed by a bilateral agreement to be signed by Malaysia and Singapore which is targeted for the of this year,” the Prime Minister added.