More bus services between Johor and Singapore soon

PUTRAJAYA - The quota for cross-border bus services between Johor and Singapore will be increased from 16 to 20, the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM) said in a press statement today.

The committee's Transportation Links Work Group (TLWG) is also looking to further improve transport connectivity by reviewing new landing points for the cross-border bus network in both countries.

The meeting in Putrajaya was the 11th working meeting of the JMCIM, and was co-chaired by Dato' Sri Abdul Wahid Omar, Malaysia's Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Singapore's National Development Minister.

Also present at the meeting were Johor Menteri Besar, Dato' Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Singapore's Transport Minister, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, along with senior officials from both countries.

Meanwhile, Singapore is also expected to announce the location of its terminus for the High Speed Rail (HSR) link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore at the upcoming Leaders' Retreat.

Several work groups have been tasked to look into the technical intricacies of the rail system that will be adopted for the HSR, as well as the operating and financing models.

JMCIM also said that the second phase of an engineering study on the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link, which will connect to Singapore's MRT system, will begin when the location of the Johor Bahru terminus has been determined.

Enhancements to cross-border movement of people and goods are also underway, with the establishment of a new application centre for the Malaysian Automated Clearance System (MACS) in Singapore.

In addition, all manual counters and the automated single-rider clearance system for motorcyclists at the Singapore land checkpoints will also be converted to allow simultaneous self-immigration clearance of both riders and pillions by the end of next year.

seanyap@sph.com.sg