M’sia Could Seek Six-Month Extension To Review JB-S’pore RTS Link Project
As devout shoppers, we’re looking forward to going to and from JB so when can we expect the completion of the RTS?
The Star Online reported that the Malaysian government could seek a six-month extension to review the proposed JB-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project. They claimed that Singapore’s government knew this development since Monday (28 Oct).
On Thursday (31 Oct), Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook called the news site out for publishing information from unverified and unnamed sources.
Malaysia to seek extension?
On Thursday (31 Oct), a report by The Star claimed that the Malaysian government will seek an extension on the anticipated collaboration. If the report is true, this will be the third extension for the proposal.
According to the Star’s update citing an unnamed official, the system would be costly to build and maintain.
They wrote,
Malaysia could be looking to bring down the cost of the project.
On September, The Star also reported that the government considered seeking funds from the private sector to develop the project.
Malaysian Transport Minister debunks report
A few hours after The Star’s publication, Malaysia’s Transport Minister Mr Anthony Loke Siew Fook took to social media to debunk the report.
He called out The Star for their misleading and unethical publication, saying that they used unverified and unnamed sources.
His post revealed that Prime Minister Mahathir will make an announcement on the RTS at 3pm on Thursday (31 Oct) in Johor Bahru.
RTS Link project development
News savvy locals will know that Malaysia’s six-month grace period to review the RTS project expired on 30 September. They received a one-month extension until Thursday (31 Oct).
On 11 Oct, Malaysia’s Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng revealed their 2020 budget and announced that they are poised to start the RTS project.
Dr Mahathir told TODAY on 17 Oct,
For the RTS, we will proceed, but we will take some time.
The railway aims to connect the Woodland’s North MRT station and Bukit Chagar MRT station in Malaysia. These two stations will have dedicated spaces for Singaporean and Malaysian immigration and customs facilities.
Target completion by 2024
The RTS’ target completion date is on December 31, 2024.
Once the RTS is up and running, it will replace the KTM Shuttle Sentral that connects JB Sentral and Woodlands Train Checkpoint. The latter will stop its operation after six months of the RTS’ completion.
If the project is scrapped, then Malaysia will pay Singapore up to S$65 million (RM 200 million) for their initial preparatory work.
Faster way to cross the border
Singaporeans and Malaysians cross the border often.
Unfortunately, the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine centres (CIQ) often have long queues.
The Straits Times estimates that 367,000 people uses CIQ’s services on a daily basis, with 254,000 people on the Johor Baru side.
There’s a lot of uncertainty so we’re keeping our fingers crossed and hoping that the RTS link will become reality. We bet that Singaporeans and Malaysians would love to cross the border more often.
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