Tan Kin Lian's Blog: New railway in Malaysia

Sunday, May 30, 2010

New railway in Malaysia

I am delighted that, after twenty years, Singapore and Malaysia has resolved their differences on the railway station in Tanjong Pagar. The new railway station will move initially to Woodlands. We can look forward to a new railway system being developed in Malaysia over the next few years.

Many advanced countries have a high speed railway system to connect its citiies. For example, the progress in China and Taiwan is amazing. Malaysia can catch up for lost time. Many Singaporeans would love to have the chance to travel to Kuala Lumpur and Penang by train, rather than by plane. This will also benefit many Malaysians who work in Singapore.

Some people wonder why it took twenty years for the leaders of the two countries to resolve the differences. This shows that high salaries of leaders do not lead to better performance. However, as the saying goes, "Better late than never!"

Tan Kin Lian

24 comments:

hongjun said...: I do not feel this has got to do with the high salaries of the Singapore's ministers. Negotiation involves both parties isn't it?; May 30, 2010 8:36 AM
Anonymous said...: Reminds me of a Singapore joke I heard recently.

QUESTION:
How many Singaporeans does it take to screw in a light-bulb?

ANSWER:
One hundred Singaporeans.
- One foreign talent to actually do the work of screwing in the light-bulb
- Ten high priced government scholars to write a "position paper" to justify the action
- Ninety unemployed Singaporeans to stand around wondering what just happened; May 30, 2010 9:59 AM
C H Yak said...: In today's world, organisations must be more organic with the environment in order to progress, whether in business or international affairs; particularly with our neighbours.

Asean relationships seems to be at its best in recent years with the economies in good shape. It was bogged now by personal differences of the old leaders whom were trying to prove their supremacy in politics, and the 2nd generation leaders were caught in between by the "legacy" issues of these old leaders.

High salary on one side could not solve these "legacy" issues. Instead they become encumbrance.

Perhaps, the old leaders should retire gracefully out of the whole political landscape...even in China; this has happened to a good extent.

Or perhaps it was to create encumbrance first; to let the young 3rd generation leader prove their worth for million dollar salary.

This is ironical and took 20 years.; May 30, 2010 10:04 AM
Anonymous said...: "Some people wonder why it took twenty years for the leaders of the two countries to resolve the differences." - TKL

Maybe due to a change of leadership on Malaysian side.

The points of agreement on the railway were signed in 1990 between then Spore PM LKY and Msian Finance Minister Daim. For some reason it was signed without then Msian PM Dr M's blessings. After Dr M left, Abdullah took over. He was perceived as ineffectual during his premiership resulting in the shocking setback to the ruling coalition in the 2008 elections.

PM Najib may have made a score for bilateral ties on this but he may face domestic pressures back home, as is the nature of Malaysian politics when something involves Singapore.; May 30, 2010 12:44 PM
Anonymous said...: To Loh Hon Chun

If you earn million dollar salary and cannot understand how to deal with your neighbour on this issue, do you really deserve your astronomical salary?

You are not so superman after all, right?; May 30, 2010 12:54 PM
StFual said...: What will happen to the rail track ?

I have done the train journey to and from KL around 6 times. I have always enjoyed that first and last part through Singapore as you see parts of singapore you dont usually see. I hope that the track route can be used for something useful like a cycle track and is not just converted to building land. If nothing else it could be a very effective north south highway.; May 30, 2010 12:57 PM
JSLEE said...: Would be better to improve the public transport & safety in Johor esp JB.; May 30, 2010 2:44 PM
Anonymous said...: Rex comments as follows,

I agree with Loh Hon Chun(8.36am post) that there is no link between minister salary and the success of the current settlement with Malaysia re. the rail problem.

In the old days, Mahatir who is staunchly not a singapore-friendly chappie, would never have made any deal with singapore. After several change of malaysian leadership, the environment is a little bit improved these days. Moreover, there seems to be more bargaining chips in favour of Singapore. One local social political blog site said that maybe malaysia wanted to write off accumulated huge 500 billion dollar debt. Then we also don't know if KL made some gains with land swaps of prime land in IRs in Singapore. A lot of variables has changed. The entire deal is somewhat secretive at this stage.

I think it is not correct to link this issue with Minister's Salaries at all, the currnet socio-economic-political situation and also, the will of the other parties also observed by Loh, are the main reasons for the success of the deal. I think it is a win win situation, even though the details are not very clear as at now.

rex; May 30, 2010 3:49 PM
Anonymous said...: To: May 30, 2010 9:59 AM

The joke is actually told as follows;

QUESTION:
How many Singaporeans does it take to screw in a light-bulb?

ANSWER:
None. No Singaporean is needed.
Job is done by a Foreign Talent.; May 30, 2010 4:02 PM
Anonymous said...: Mr.Tan,
Your comments on high salaries Vs topics with our Malaysia friends is not fair.See what Singapore have achieved over the past twenty years.Negotiation take two hands to clap.Who care whether your salaries is in Ringgits or Sing dollars.In this instance,we should look forward to the new bilateral ties and hope that will benefits our next generation from both sides.This is a good start,we should give our blessing.

teacher 80s; May 30, 2010 4:12 PM
Malaysian PR said...: MPs and Ministers are all 100% businessmen/women.. they are more interested in getting you and I to part with our money, not giving you theirs!

It also shows that not even the best scholars are able to negotiate a deal especially if the other side is fixed on their position.
( sama with Isreal and Palestine ); May 30, 2010 4:43 PM
Anonymous said...: If there's going to be an Orient Express Rail from S E Asia all the way into Central Asia and from there link to Europe, me does wishes that Tanjong Pagar Railway Station be the Starting Point. And of course i am saying that it belongs to Singapore la.

patriot; May 30, 2010 5:06 PM
Anonymous said...: When you can continue to draw million$$$ regardless of the outcome, you are unlikely to rock the boat. The more you are paid, the more cowardly you become.; May 30, 2010 5:28 PM
Tan Kin Lian said...: A few people have commented that the delay was due to Dr. Mahathir and his hatred of Singapore. This is an impression of the Dr. Mahathir, which is influenced by the reporting in the media.

A well known Singapore doctor, who is a classmate of Dr. Hahathir, said that Dr. Mahathir visits Singapore regularly on a private basis to meet with his doctor friends here. He does not appear to be hostile to the people of Singapore.

I have observed Dr. Hahathir and watched his speeches. He seemed to be quite sensible in his remarks, although the reporting tend to convey a negative impression of him.

When he stepped down as Prime Minister, he did pass over total power, although he did complain in the the background about the changes to his policies.; May 30, 2010 11:03 PM
Tan Kin Lian said...: I would expect our highly talented leaders (based on their high pay) to be capable to find a way to resolve the differences with Dr. Mahathir. After all, Dr. Mahathir also wanted to benefit his people as well.

Our leaders talked about "prosper thy neighbour" but was not able to convince the other side about how they could benefit from the points of agreement.

Twenty years of our lives have pssed without tbe benefit of the railway. Never mind, we did have the budget airlines.; May 30, 2010 11:14 PM
C H Yak said...: I read this letter, supposingly from Soros to Mahathir...not sure if it was a true letter.

http://beritakini.wordpress.com/2008/04/12/letter-soros-hardhits-mahathir/; May 31, 2010 12:03 AM
Anonymous said...: REX comments as follows,

I read CHYak's link on Dr Mahatir and found it very interesting. Even if you take 50% of the article as lies, it would still not make a very healthy picture of the personality of Dr Mahatir.

I don;t know much about Dr M, but i think he is an interesting character and I still have some respect for him never mind the alleged corruption. Something he said more than 20 years ago sticks to my mind to this day. It was a very original observation. It goes like this:
"You must have power. Without power, you can say something logical and obvious, but nobody will listen to you". And of course with power, you can say something silly, and there will be long queue of people trying to read meaning and wisdom into your silly ideas.

rex; May 31, 2010 8:31 AM
Anonymous said...: Dr Mahathir is not a demon as the media made him, in fact he is a man with a heart for the ordinary Singaporeans. He is dogmatic with the PAP Govt only, being obsessed with historical baggage.
He helped us Singaporean investors to get back our properties, which was stalled by the developer during the Asian financial crisis.
A stern master no doubt, but I could not help comparing him with our Govt leaders, who would say things like we went in with our eyes opened on botched investments.
Could not beat a former Malaysian PM who extended a hand to help some helpless Singaporean property investors.
Surprisingly , we are expected to vote again for this Govt, who dumped us in the lurch.; May 31, 2010 11:30 AM
SimpleLogic said...: A company hired me for $20k per month to sell their product, a special air filter for clean factories. After 6 months, I could not secure any order so they ask me to go.
I am hired by my boss to sell his proposal to my neighbor, the factory next door. For $1 million a year compensation, I failed to convince my neighbor to take up our idea after one year of selling and entertainment. My boss is naturally upset with me. He cuts my pay to $200k per year, and I willing accept it although my neighbor loves our proposal but detest my boss's arrogance and cunning, and is worried he would be short-changed by my boss.

We paid several millions over 20 years to a group of supposedly able men to sell a win-win idea to our dear neighbor and long lost brother. After 20 years, they finally did it which is a good thing.
I wondered if men like Chiam ST and Low TK would have closed the deal earlier, as Dr. M seems to have an axe to grind with certain people at that time. Maybe certain leaders lack the charisma to work with the North's ideology.

Or was it bad economic times that is forcing both parties to work together as opportunities elsewhere are diminishing fast, with tension rising in North-East Asia & China's anticipated policy tightening?; May 31, 2010 3:18 PM
C H Yak said...: We still must respect Dr M's intelligence for his re-engineering of the productivity theory of "The Black Cat vs White Cat & Mouse Catching" of Chairman Mao into his Theory of Taking...Whether you take it officially or unofficially, you are still taking!. LOL.; May 31, 2010 4:16 PM
Anonymous said...: Dr M must have studied Singaporean leaders' win-win relationship with the Singapore electorate over the years.

Must have come to the conclusion that it was a deal too good to be true.

I not stupid. I watch carefully how you treat your friends. If I eat lunch with you, I watch carefully how you treat the helpless waiter who is serving you. If you can screw them, you will definitely screw me.; May 31, 2010 6:08 PM
Anonymous said...: I think there are more stories untold or yet to be unfold in this mega deal.
Both parties sought a win-win situation and who is the ultimate winner, history will tells.
To get the checkpoint moved to Woodlands, Spore has to "give" up some land parcels and is this a fair deal to us?; May 31, 2010 8:29 PM
Anonymous said...: REX comments as follows,

According to my knowledge of the history, the entire strip of land where the Malayan rail trespass from keppel to woodlands is technically part of Malaysian land. It is quirky, but this is what i had been told long ago, part of malaya is legally embedded in Singapore section.

Therefore, when the rail terminal move to woodlands, Singapore does not automatically take over the land. That is why Kazanah has rights to 60% of MS Co. to redevelop the land which actually still belong to them. Possibly the dilution to 60% was in exchange for something they also get, maybe some piece of investment in the new IR stuffs. Who knows. There could be some other secret deals..

I think with 40% rights to decide on the strip of vacated land from Tg Pagar northwords, it will be quite beneficial for Singaporeans as a whole even if we give up some other stuffs. You can't have your cake and eat it, the saying goes.

What Singaporeans need desperately is the land. We should not be overconsumed in chasing GDP and casino bets and other abstract stuffs.

So, in my opinion this deal is probably a good effort of the Prime Minister and team, even if it is belated. As to why it has to take 20 years, i feel that human relations (malaysian and singapore people), politics, socio economic scenario, international scenario, numerous factors come into play. All of us don't have the full facts of the case, so how can we make comments fairly?

Hence, i suggest that we celebrate this success and be happy. Once in a blue moon even moronic PMs can do something nice. So smile everyone!

rex; June 01, 2010 9:35 AM
C H Yak said...: I spent my childhood years living in the kampongs "land-locked" by the Clementi Rd-Upper Bt Timah-Holland Rd segment of the railway track. Remember the Jurong rail extension to the old Jurong Ind Estate, which I believe is S'pore's land?

This vast premium land area was acquired by the S'pore Govt thru PSA at "dirt cheap" rock-bottom prices of a few cents per square foot via the Compulsory Land Acquisition Act decades ago.

Imagine the Govt. selling this vast area for condo developments at $1,200.00 per square foot today.
It is all going to the S'pore Govt. What is the value of the few plots of land the Singapore Govt is co-developing with M'sia at TJP, BT Timah & Kranji?..."Da Wo Jian Xiao Wo" in Chinese language.

The profits can feed the GDP and the million dollar salaries for a few years to come.

Imagine other land locked parcels which will be relieve?; June 01, 2010 5:53 PM

Sunday, May 30, 2010

New railway in Malaysia

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