Firms Eyeing KL-Singapore Rail Project
Several international firms,
including Japanese ones, are
eyeing the 330km Kuala LumpurSingapore high speed rail link
project.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib
Tun Razak said that during
his discussions with leading
Japanese corporations – three
namely Hitachi Ltd, Sumitomo
Corporation and Mitsui & Co –
had voiced their interest in the
project.
He added the Government was
still conducting a project feasibility
study. Once completed, the
international bidding process
would be carried out.
“The companies, including
Japanese firms, could then take
part in the process,” he told the
Malaysian media.
Najib said there were also
Chinese and European companies
that were interested in the high
speed rail link project.
Earlier this year, Malaysia and
Singapore announced the rail
link, which is expected to cut land
travelling time between the two
countries to just 90 minutes.
Targeted to be completed by
2020, it is reported to cost about
RM40 billion.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe, who held a bilateral
meeting with Najib earlier,
urged for Japanese technology
to be considered in the rail link
construction.
“This is something which Malaysia
should consider adopting as
Japan has the Shinkansen high
speed railway system,” he said.
Najib said there were
opportunities for Japanese
companies to take part in the
development of Malaysia’s
infrastructure through the
process of open bidding.
On the second wave of the Look
East Policy, Malaysia is eyeing
high value investments from the
Land of the Rising Sun and those
that are up in the value chain, the
Prime Minister said..
This comes after the positive
effect of the first wave of the
policy which started in 1982
where Malaysians learned skills,
values and the good work ethics
practised by the Japanese.
“I told Prime Minister Abe that
we are not interested in getting
labour intensive investments but
are eyeing those that are high
tech and that would create a high
supply chain..
The Prime Minister also held
discussions with Tokuyama
Corporation which confirmed a
RM5 billion investment for the
second phase of its polysilicon
plant in Malaysia.
The company had already spent
RM3 billion and invited Najib to
launch the second phase some
time next year.
Japanese firm Toshiba has also
confirmed its partnership with
1MDB to set up a high-tech
cancer treatment centre, the
Prime Minister added.
New Resort Proof of Iskandar Malaysia’s
Growing Importance
Najib (fourth right) along with Mohamed Khaled (front, fourth left), Husni
(front, third left) and Yakcop (third right) posing for a photo with the Legoland
Malaysia Resort replica during the opening of Hotel Traders and Hotel
Legoland here yesterday. Also present are Azman (second right), IRDA chief
executive officer Ismail Ibrahim (front left) and Taman Tema dan Resort Sdn
Bhd general manager Tunku Datuk Ahmad Burhanuddin (right)
The opening of Hotel Traders,
Puteri Harbour and Legoland
Resort Malaysia bears testament
to the government’s success in
developing the Iskandar Malaysia
economic corridor as a tourism
and business destination, Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
said.
Since opening its doors to the
public, the two attractions and
the Puteri harbour Indoor Theme
Park have received many visitors,
both from within and outside the
country.
“Since its opening in June, Hotel
Traders and Puteri Harbour
Indoor Theme Park have received
90,000 visitors, while the Legoland
Malaysia Theme Park, since its
opening more than a year ago, has
played host to about two million
visitors,” he said when opening
Hotel Traders and Hotel Legoland.
Nasional Bhd.
Najib, who is also Khazanah
Nasional chairman, expressed
his confidence that the 249-room
diverse theme Hotel Legoland
would be an attraction to Iskandar
Malaysia.
Earlier, Najib, who arrived in Johor
Baharu this morning, chaired the
69th Khazanah Nasional Board of
Directors’ meeting at Hotel Traders.
Also present were Second Finance
Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni
Hanadzlah, Menteri Besar Datuk
Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin,
Khazanah Nasional deputy
chairman Tan Sri Nor Mohamed
Yakcop and managing director Tan
Sri Azman Mokhtar.
Najib said Hotel Traders has
been built on a 648-acre strategic
location fronting the Tebrau Straits.
Najib, who is also Finance Minister,
expressed confidence in Hotel
Legoland, located adjacent to the
Legoland Theme Park, to woo
many visitors.
The 283-room Hotel Traders
is owned and developed by
Destination Resorts and Hotel
Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Khazanah
www.PropertyHunter.com.my
55