Malaysia said last month it will invite proposals from private companies, paving the way for reviving the project that was once estimated to cost more than 100 billion ringgit ($29.6 billion). The plan, which was agreed upon in 2016, suffered multiple delays because of escalating costs and was eventually scrapped in 2021 after both countries failed to reach an agreement.
The on-again, off-again 350-kilometre high-speed rail link would cut travel time between the centres down to about 90 minutes versus more than four hours by car. The service was previously due to start in 2026.
