Kuala Lampur, April 25 -- In February 2024, analysts questioned the viability of the KL-Singapore high speed rail (HSR) project at RM120bil raising doubts on the private sector's ability to fund it and that it may eventually cost more. However, some said the government has land that can be swapped with those to be acquired for the project.

A few days ago, according to market insiders, the figure has drastically been reduced to about RM70 billion - more than 40% decrease based on factors such as the length and alignment as well as the number of trains and stations required. This is lower than the initial estimation of RM72 billion when the project was first announced in 2013.

No definitive cost estimate has ever been provided.

In July l...