Two Chinese firms are interested in joining the bidding for a high-speed train line between Malaysia and Singapore.
The Star Online quoted the China.org.cn website as saying that China Railway Construction Corp and China Southern Railway were keen to the project. Other potential competitors include Japan.
The two countries competed for new train projects in Thailand.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated Japan's intention to join the Malaysian project in talks with Deputy Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in Sendai on Sunday, the Bernama news agency reported.
The joint project between the Malaysian and Singapore governments will be undertaken by the private sector, the Malaysian deputy prime minister said
"I heard China is also keen," Mr Muhyiddin said.
Singapore and Malaysia agreed in 2013 to build a high-speed train line by 2020. It will reduce travel time between their two capitals to just 90 minutes from the five hours by normal trains serving Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.