"CIMB Research in its report yesterday said that the higher cost for the Sungai Buloh-Kajang line was not a surprise as the earlier number was based on 2009 prices. (Higher construction cost and inflation may contribute to the current cost which is estimated to reach RM 20 bil for the Sg Buloh-Kajang line.)"True, inflation and the increase of construction cost may be one of the key factors in the hike of price, but does it have to be cost THAT much?
Let's take China's Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, which is 1318 km long, was completed on the November 15, 2010, cost the China government about USD32 billion, meaning about USD24 mil per km. And mind you, it will be the fastest train on earth once it starts operation on June 20th, 2011.Malaysia's MRT project on the other hand, will cost the Malaysian government a whooping RM353 mil/km, which is about USD116.14 mil/km! It's a difference of USD92 million! Where and what is the money being spent on?
Is it because there are more stations that are needed to be built? The Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway has only 23 stops, compared to Malaysia's MRT project which has 41 stops. I don't think so. And we know that China's equipment used to build the track is far more superior and expensive.
If you do a comparison like this, it's obvious we should bring in the Chinese to build it, right? We'll save tons of money, and prevent the country from going into further bankruptcy!
Wake up people, it's our money that's being spent!
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