PETALING JAYA • A new government agency tasked with helping to develop the high-speed rail (HSR) between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, MyHSR Corporation, is calling on Malaysians to design its new corporate logo.

The agency, which is under Malaysia's Finance Ministry, is offering more than RM30,000 (S$9,900) in cash prizes.

Previous Malaysian media reports said it was set up in April to oversee the delivery of the HSR.

MyHSR is headed by Mr Mohd Nur Ismal Kamal, former chief executive officer of the Land Public Transport Commission, or SPAD.

He said the agency and SPAD are working on details of the ambitious rail project which will be presented to the government for a bilateral agreement with Singapore.

Last week, some 150 companies responded to invitations from the Land Transport Authority and SPAD for a request-for-information (RFI) exercise. Parties which responded are believed to include Japanese, Chinese, South Korean, American and European consortiums.

Speaking about the RFI, Mr Mohd Nur said the initial market interest has been phenomenal.

"Many parties are keen to participate, including country-based consortiums, technology suppliers and financial investors. They are also keen to understand how both governments intend to jointly implement the project," he said.

In May, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak announced that Singapore's terminus would be in Jurong East. In Malaysia, its terminus is in the upcoming Bandar Malaysia township.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK