The High-Speed ​​Rail (HSR) project linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore is expected to cost between RM50 billion and RM60 billion, Second Finance Minister Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani said.

He said the project would become the economic spine of several states, particularly Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka.

He said the project is very important to Malaysia and Singapore as it is would shorten travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to just one-and-a-half hours.

"This will boost travel between the peoples of the two countries as they can start their journey in the morning and come back on the same day.

"We will make sure that it is implemented as soon as possible," he told reporters at a hari raya open house hosted by the Finance Ministry here today.

Malaysia and Singapore today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the HSR project in Putrajaya, affirming Kuala Lumpur and Singapore's commitment towards its inmplementation.

The signing of the MoU was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong, who is on a one-day working visit to Malaysia.

The 350-km HSR project will have eight stations, namely Bandar Malaysia, Putrajaya, Seremban, Ayer Keroh, Muar, Batu Pahat, Iskandar Puteri, and Singapore.