Wee accuses Loke of 'double standards' over HSR cost remark backlash

Wee accuses Loke of 'double standards' over HSR cost remark backlash


Published: Sep 7, 2024 4:44 PM


Former transport minister Wee Ka Siong accused his successor Anthony Loke of alleged double standards for "correcting" him on the cost of the proposed high-speed rail (HSR) project.

According to Wee (above, right), he was merely quoting previous news reports that the project is expected to cost RM120 billion when he asked the government to reconsider its implementation.

"(My sources are) a report by Singapore's Straits Times (ST) dated Feb 19, 2024, which predicted that the cost of the HSR would increase to at least RM100 billion, and a report by New Straits Times dated Feb 22, 2024 - which quoted transport analyst Rosli Azad Khan that the cost of the HSR project was expected to rise to RM120 billion.

"If these news reports are false news, and it has been over six months, why haven’t these reports been corrected by Loke?

“Why does Loke react so strongly when I speak up?" the MCA president asked in a statement today.

Yesterday, Loke questioned a claim by Wee that the estimated cost of the HSR project has spiked from RM70 billion to RM120 billion.

"I don’t know where the RM120 billion figure is from," Loke was quoted as saying.

Elaborating, Wee said that Loke's colleague, Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim had on March 20 touched on the HSR project costing RM120 billion during a Parliament debate, but this remark was unquestioned by Loke.

"When I quoted the figure which had been reported in mainstream media, I was rudely questioned. Why? Isn’t this a double standard?"

The Ayer Hitam MP stressed that the RM120 billion figure was not a figment of his imagination, thus, there is no need for Loke to rubbish it.

"Hello Loke, is it a sin or major mistake to cite credible media reports and offer suggestions to the government?"