M’sia, S’pore to draft supplementary agreement on RTS project

SEPANG: Malaysia and Singapore are working towards a new supplementary agreement on the suspended Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS) project, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook yesterday.

He said the project, which was suspended for six months, would involve both countries’ attorney-generals in drafting the agreement.

“There are some costs involved but I cannot reveal it to you (media). It has to be determined by the Operational Letter of Agreement between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore Area Control Centres Concerning Singapore Arrivals, Departures and Overflights 1974 (LOA 1974).

“More details will be announced once we have finalised that,” he told a joint press conference with his Singapore counterpart Khaw Boon Wan after a 45-minute bilateral meeting at KL International Airport here yesterday.

The Malaysian government in April had reportedly requested for a six-month extension until September, from Singapore before making a decision on the RTS project, to enable the government to examine several issues including costs of implementing the project.

Meanwhile, Khaw said the RTS Link, when completed, would make a significant difference to commuters’ experience, as it would be able to transport up to 10,000 passengers per direction per hour.

The RTS Link will cross the Straits of Johor via a 25m-high bridge, linking the Bukit Chagar Station in Johor Bharu to the RTS Link Woodlands North Station in Singapore.

Khaw said Malaysia had requested for a six month suspension to enable it to review the key parameter of the heavy-investment project.

“Both our respective AGs and officials are working towards a supplemental agreement to effect such a suspension.

“We will approach this issue as we did for the suspension of the HSR Project, with goodwill and reasonable accommodation to achieve a win-win situation,” he said. - Bernama