KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — Malaysian government officials will meet with their Singaporean counterparts to discuss the High Speed Rail (HSR) project to link both countries before the end of July, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said today.

The economic affairs minister said Singapore had sent a diplomatic note to Wisma Putra proposing the meeting be held before the end of the month on the 350km rail project.

“I will try my level best to accommodate this particular request and see a date that is mutually agreeable between both parties,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here.

The KL-Singapore HSR project, approved under the previous Barisan Nasional government, stalled after Pakatan Harapan took power in the May 9 general election.

Azmin said the Cabinet, following a meeting, had decided a delegation from the Economic Affairs Ministry will head to Singapore to negotiate the project.

“The government decided that a two-way discussion be held soon, represented by my ministry to review the terms of the agreement in this two-way HSR project that was signed in December 2016, and to see what is the best solution that will not threaten the long diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Singapore,” he added.

Azmin was also asked for his opinion on the HSR project, whether or not it was a good project, but he remained non-committal.

“I am not saying it's a terrible project, because certainly any infrastructure project will certainly benefit both countries,” he said.

He said the priority is still to maintain a good relationship with the city nation, describing them as a crucial partner to Malaysia.

“We always regard and we will continue to regard Singapore as our strategic partner.

“So I think the best solution is for both parties to sit down and discuss what is the best interest to Singaporeans and also Malaysians,” he added.