Friday 29 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (Jul 18): Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has questioned the RM110 billion cost cited by the Pakatan Harapan Government for the KL-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project, although the tender for the project only closes on Dec 28.

Najib said Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali’s reply to his question in Parliament today was disappointing as the Minister did not explain how the government obtained the RM110 billion figure.

“The answer from the Pakatan Harapan government on why they claim the HSR project cost RM110 billion — which is double the RM55 billion to RM70 billion range previously estimated by the Barisan Nasional and Singapore government — is disappointing,” he said in a statement posted on his Facebook page.

“When questioned, Azmin can only answer that the cost is RM110 billion because it includes unspecified hidden costs even though the tender will be jointly-decided by both countries, the tender has not closed, the price is not decided and the financing package is not known.

“Are you also saying that the Singapore government is covering these ‘hidden costs’?” asked Najib.

The former premier also responded to government lawmaker Tony Pua’s statement today that Najib was aware that the Light Rail Transit Line 3 (LRT3) project cost is RM32 billion.

He said during his tenure, he did not approve Prasarana Malaysia Bhd’s request of additional funding of RM22 billion for the project

“It was just a request, and the Barisan Nasional government did not agree with it,” he said.

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