LETTER | We fully support Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's proposal to drop the colossal High Speed Rail (HSR) project from KL to Singapore.

Indeed, it’s a sheer squandering of public funds.

Instead, we could introduce the more successful and cost-effective Electric Train Service (ETS), which already plies between KL-Ipoh- Butterworth. It’s an excellent service where you can reach Ipoh in less than 2 hours (200km) and Butterworth in 4 hours (390km). It costs RM36 and RM59 respectively.

We could extend a similar service from KL to Singapore. We could reach the southernmost destination in less than three hours.

The only hitch is to build a double track from Gemas to Johor Bahru (JB). It may costs below RM5 billion if it’s done without thrills and frills. The double-tracking awarded to YTL must be reviewed as the project was valued at a high cost of RM8billion.

The double track from Gemas to JB could also serve as a freight link to transport cargos to the various ports in Johor expeditiously.

HSR doesn’t provide this service.

As the nation is on a major austerity drive, we should cut the costs “to the bones”.

The Minority Rights Action Party (Mira) calls on the Singapore government to co-operate with Malaysia government during these trying times as Malaysia is going through a transformation with a huge debt and liabilities totalling RM1 trillion hanging over its head.

S FRANCIS RHAJAHH is president of the Minority Rights Action Party (Mira).

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.