The plan to build Southeast Asia's first high-speed train line, between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, remains on track, chief executive office of the Malaysian Land Public Transport Commission Mohd Nur Ismal Kamal said.
Mr Mohd Nur told the Asia Pacific Rail 2015 forum in Hong Kong on Tuesday that the high-speed train linking the two capitals would be in service in 2020 as planned, The Star reported on Wednesday.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Singapore Premier Lee Hsien Loong agreed in 2013 to connect the two countries with a high-speed train but the plan is well behind schedule.
Mr Mohd Nur said security concerns were a problem the two governments still need to thrash out.
"There are differences in how Malaysia and Singapore perceive security issues, with the latter being more paranoid but that is not necessarily a bad thing," he was quoted as saying.
The planned high-speed train will cut travel time between the two capitals to 90 minutes, instead of six hours on present express trains.
Singapore will select one of three locations -- Tuas West, Jurong East or the city centre -- for the terminus. Malaysia will use an air force base about five kilometres from the landmark Petronas Twin Towers for the terminus.