Keen competition for Malaysia-Singapore high-speed rail link

As expected, the development of the high-speed rail link between Malaysia and Singapore was very much on the minds of national and business leaders whom Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak met during his three-day working visit to Japan.

'Shinkansen' or bullet train was the main topic of discussion at all the meetings, showing the all-pervading interest of the Japanese in the ambitious project.

Asked by Malaysian journalists about his experience riding the trains in China and Japan, the Prime Minister was cautious in his reply.

"I don't think I should say publicly my views because it will prejudice the outcome of the final decision.

"Let it be a process that is carried out in a most objective manner because it's not only in the passengers' experience but it is going to be decided on the basis of the availability payment over a period of 25 years," Najib said at the end of his visit Wednesday night.