KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 7): The deadline for submission of concept proposals for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (KL-SG HSR) has been extended from Nov 15, 2023 to Jan 15 next year.

MyHSR Corp Sdn Bhd, which has the mandate to develop the HSR, said the extension of the deadline for the KL-SG HSR request for information (RFI) was due to the “requests from international and local industry players in recent weeks”.

“More than 60% of the companies, which had indicated their commitment to submit concept proposals for the KL-SG HSR project that was originally scheduled by Nov 15, have requested for an extension of time as they required more time to form consortium with potential partners and explore financial options, among others,” MyHSR said in a statement on Tuesday.

MyHSR had on July 27, conducted the RFI briefing for the KL-SG HSR project, which drew more than 700 local and foreign participants representing the full spectrum of the project.

The briefing explained the overview of the RFI process, including the timeline for local and international firms as well as consortia to submit concept proposals for the KL-SG HSR project based on a public-private partnership initiative and deliver the project based on the design-finance-build-operate-transfer (DFBOT) model.

Participating firms and consortia are required to demonstrate technical expertise and overall ability to develop and operate this major infrastructure system and services with the required resources and within the budgeted cost, quality and time. They are also required to demonstrate viable commercial and business models as well as consortium and governance frameworks.

To date, MyHSR has sold more than 30 copies of the RFI documents purchased by local and international firms, according to MyHSR chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Nur Ismal Mohamed Kamal.

“We understand the companies need more time to produce quality proposals for the KL-SG HSR project that will be a growth engine and a much-needed impetus in catalysing the economic trajectory of Malaysia," he said.

He said that the RFI is also part of the government’s initiative to reactivate the KL-SG HSR project via new funding mechanisms and implementation models in efforts to improve the rail transport infrastructure further and invigorate the national economy.

Last week, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the Malaysian government was still searching for a suitable financing method for the HSR project before bringing it to the Singapore government for further discussions.

Previously, research house CGS-CIMB in a September note said five companies were believed to have been shortlisted for the KL-SG HSR, including YTL Corp Bhd, MMC Corp Bhd, Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd, WCT Holdings Bhd and Berjaya Land Bhd.