Why it’s a high-speed game changer

• Main Author: EUGENE, Tan K. B.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2013
• Subjects: Asian Studies; Political Economy
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sol_research/3760; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/sol_research/article/5718/viewcontent/today_20130221_1.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

SMU Assistant Professor of Law Eugene Tan said that the agreement to build a high-speed rail (HSR) link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore marks a milestone in bilateral relations. He noted that the HSR project is a manifestation of the imperative for Singapore and Malaysia to collaborate closely, leveraging on each other’s complementarities and strengths. Ideally, the HSR link would have a knock-on effect in engendering confidence and momentum in bilateral ties. In the meantime, with the HSR in the making, both governments should work resolutely on other existing plans, such as the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link between Singapore and Johor Bahru, targeted to be operational by 2018. Assistant Prof Tan noted that the challenge remains, nonetheless, of ensuring that there is deep political will on both sides of the Causeway to stay focused on the long-term and to avoid politicking for short-term gains. Investors and business people are sensitive to signals from governments. As such, leadership is a sine qua non for sustainable relations. For the benefit of both countries, the HSR link—when it comes to fruition—can catalyse the removal of perceptual obstacles to closer economic and political ties, while building confidence and trust.