‘RTS more beneficial than HSR’

JOHOR BARU: Businesses here lauded the decision by the Federal Government not to scrap the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS Link) project.

“We hope the project will proceed as it is more viable and will benefit Johor and Singapore,” Johor Indian Business Organisation president P. Sivakumar told StarBiz.

He said the project needed to be sped up as one way of easing congestion along both the causeway and the second link crossing in Tanjunag Kupang, Gelang Patah.

With thousands of commuters stuck in the congestion daily, both countries were losing in terms of productivity levels and man hours.

He pointed out that the number of daily commuters had far exceeded the capacity of the MalaysiaSingapore land networks.

“We need the RTS linking Johor Baru and Singapore more than the multi-billion ringgit High Speed Rail from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur which has been axed,” added Sivakumar.

Apart from improving connectivity and accessibility between Johor Baru and Singapore, RTS Link would also reduce pollution levels.

Sivakumar pointed out while it was the prerogative of Pakatan Harapan-led Government to postpone signing the joint venture until the feasibility study is presented to the Cabinet for approval, he hoped the project would not be delayed.