SINGAPORE: Malaysia and Singapore authorities are jointly studying several matters to finalise details for the KL-Singapore high-speed rail link project, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said here last night.

He said both sides are "very serious" about the project and are mutually supportive to see the rail link was a success story.

The ambitious project, jointly agreed to by the Malaysian and Sinagpore governments, is slated for operations in 2020.

Upon completion, it will take only 90 minutes for travellers from Kuala Lumpur to reach Singapore and vice-versa.

Both sides were working closely to sort out the details as the rail link was crucial to Malaysia and Singapore to further enhance their bilateral and trade relations, he told Malaysian journalists after ending his working visit to the republic.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his Singapore counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, announced the multi-billion ringgit project after the "Leaders Annual Consultation" in Singapore last month.

Najib and Lee had said the high-speed train project was a "strategic development" to enhance bilateral relations between the two neighbours.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha had said five new railway stations would be built in Seremban, Ayer Keroh, Muar, Batu Pahat and Iskandar Malaysia for the high-speed train service.

Mustapa was in Singapore yesterday to promote Kelantan as an investment and tourism destination.

He held a roundtable discussion with 300-odd Singapore investors before launching "Let's Go To Kelantan, Malaysia by Firefly" promotional campaign.

Some 700 tour and travel agency operators and tourist guides from Singapore attended the launch.-- Bernama