SEA region will gain from KL-Bangkok high-speed rail, says Dr Wee

PETALING JAYA: There is much for the Southeast Asian region to gain with the Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok High-Speed Rail (HSR), says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The Transport Minister said Malaysia would soon begin formal discussions with Thailand on this.

On the HSR project between Malaysia and Singapore, Dr Wee said all parties wanted it done on a "clean slate".

Dr Wee said this in his briefing to the European Union-Asean Business Council during their courtesy visit to his office at the Transport Ministry in Putrajaya on Wednesday (June 8).

The delegation was led by chairman Donald Kanak and vice-chairman Tassilo Brinzer.

"I also spoke about the way forward for a new high-speed rail project between Malaysia and Singapore and how all parties want it done on a 'clean slate' without hinging on the previously cancelled project.

"I told the delegates that at the same time, there is much for the region to gain by eventually expanding on this HSR connectivity to the Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur HSR link, which the Transport Ministry will soon begin formal discussions with Thailand," said Dr Wee in a Facebook post on Wednesday (June 8).

Dr Wee also elaborated on some of the Transport Ministry's priorities and policies with regard to e-hailing, p-hailing, and the 2020 amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987.

He said the delegation was encouraged by the Government's direction and stricter stance against reckless driving and driving under the influence to improve road safety.

Dr Wee said he also invited the council's members to work with the Malaysian Road Safety Council to advocate for greater road safety awareness to make Malaysian roads safer.

"In Malaysia's continuous improvement to the public transport and logistics network, I also invited the council's transport infrastructure development members to participate in tendering for work packages for projects here as we are keen to leverage on European knowledge and expertise in these areas," he said.