KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 — The Cabinet is responsible for the framework of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail project, the Land Transport Development Authority (SPAD) said when rejecting a DAP MP’s claim that it was not involved in its execution.
Answering Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong’s allegation, SPAD said the federal government was involved at a strategic level.
“The Cabinet established the principles and framework on Malaysia’s position regarding the HSR project.
“The Economic Council governs the implementation of the HSR project within the parameters set by the Cabinet, while the HSR Executive Committee which includes the Ministry of Transport (MOT) provides direction and facilitates cross-agency discussions on relevant HSR policies, processes and parameters that would support or enhance the project implementation,” it said in the statement.
SPAD added that the MoT’s secretary-general also co-chaired the working group to oversee the said project.
It said such a level of involvement by federal officials negated Liew’s claim that Putrajaya was not consulted over decision on the HSR.
In a statement yesterday, Liew had pointed out that Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai is not a member of the Economic Council, which Liew said controlled the project.
He also cited a previous parliamentary reply that that the council had directly informed SPAD to proceed with the next phase of the project.
