Malaysia, Singapore fine-tune RTS Link co-located facility SOPs

JOHOR BAHRU (May 8): The series of technical negotiations between Malaysia and Singapore to coordinate the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the co-located facilities at the Bukit Chagar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project is ongoing and progressing smoothly.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pictured) said the negotiations are important as they symbolise mutual recognition between neighbouring countries that new border entry facilities involve not only physical infrastructure and systems, but also legal and regulatory aspects.

“In this matter, we are at the best level of coordination, the best level of organisational discipline and, most importantly, the highest level of trust,” he said.

He said this at a press conference after visiting the CIQ Complex and Bukit Chagar Station here to inspect the Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link project.

He said the co-located concept allows Singapore enforcement agencies to operate in Malaysia, while Malaysian enforcement agencies will also be able to operate within the republic’s territory.

“The approach we have agreed on is the co-located concept, which means we will place Singapore enforcement agencies here, while our agencies will be stationed in Woodlands within the same facility.

“They will carry out immigration inspections, security duties, incident management, operational communications and emergency response. All of these need to be coordinated,” he said.

He said that for the co-located concept to be realised, Malaysia and Singapore, as sovereign nations, must first resolve their respective domestic legal matters related to the operation of the RTS Link.

He said that for Malaysia, the Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link Bill 2026 has been passed and is now in the gazettement process.

Media reports stated that Singapore’s Parliament on Tuesday passed a bill outlining the principles and powers to manage cross-border incidents involving the RTS Link, which will enable Malaysian CIQ operations in Singapore, as well as Singaporean CIQ operations in Malaysia.

The Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link, which is expected to be fully operational in January next year, will connect the Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru with the Woodlands North station in Singapore, with a travel time of only five minutes.

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