Friday 29 Mar 2024
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PUTRAJAYA (May 6): The Mass Rapid Transit 3 (MRT3) or Circle Line is still too costly to be revived, according to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"It is too costly at the moment. We don't have money, [so] we have to cut down on the construction, so we will have to take time...

"We know it is useful, but even if it is useful... for example it'll be a great thing if we can have a high speed rail from Singapore to Hat Yai, but we don't have the money. We can borrow the money, [but] then we'll have problems with financing.

"So everything depends on circumstances. It is easy to promise but when you come in and become responsible, you find that you have to abide by the exigencies of the situation that we are faced with," Dr Mahathir told a press conference here today.

He was asked to comment on speculations that the shelved MRT3 project, previously estimated to cost RM45 billion, could be revived at half its cost.

According to The Edge Malaysia weekly, quoting a source familiar with the matter, the federal government, together with construction giant Gamuda Bhd, are understood to have had talks over the past few months to revive the rail project, at about RM22.5 billion. Though there are no details yet of the plans being discussed, or what will enable Gamuda to slash the price, a source said the government "is quite receptive to the MRT3 proposal, after the reduced cost".

 

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