THE additional six months requested by Malaysia for the rapid transit system (RTS) link between Johor and Singapore are to review three agreements under the project as Putrajaya wants to make some amendments, said Anthony Loke.

The 4km rail project linking Woodlands, Singapore, and Bukit Chagar, Johor Baru is still on, said the transport minister.

“We requested an additional six months to review the three agreements as we need some time to make the amendments,” he said at the Parliament lobby today.

The three are on the joint venture agreement, concessionaire and the amendment bilateral.

Yesterday, in a written reply to Parliament, Singapore Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said Malaysia had asked to suspend the RTS project for a third time until April 30, 2020.

 “In the spirit of bilateral cooperation, Singapore agreed to Malaysia’s request to further extend the suspension period,” he was quoted as saying in a CAN report.

Last week, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Putrajaya will proceed with the RTS project at a new cost of RM3.16 billion.

The prime minister said this is RM1.77 billion, or 36%, less than the 4km link’s original price tag of RM4.93 billion.

“We will go ahead with the project, which will help ease traffic congestion. The details will be discussed with the Singapore government,” he said.

On October 18, the Transport Ministry received the cabinet’s nod to continue with RTS with changes to its structure, scope and route specifications.

Malaysia and Singapore last year signed a bilateral agreement to build the cross-border link to alleviate the Causeway’s traffic woes.

Its two stations, at Woodlands North and Bukit Chagar, will have co-located Singaporean and Malaysian Customs, Immigration and Quarantine facilities.

Initially targeted for completion by December 31, 2024, RTS will be the second rail link between the countries, after KTM’s Tebrau service. – November 5, 2019.