Singapore, Malaysia working on agreement to suspend RTS Link
Putrajaya
SINGAPORE and Malaysia are working towards a supplementary agreement to suspend a cross-border rail link between Woodlands and Johor Baru.
Singapore's Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said on Monday that the Attorneys-General and officials from both countries are working on an agreement to effect a suspension of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link.
Speaking at a press conference alongside his Malaysian counterpart Anthony Loke at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Mr Khaw noted that Malaysia has requested a six-month suspension of the RTS Link so it can review key parameters of the project. "We will approach this issue as we did for the suspension of the HSR Project, with goodwill and reasonable accommodation," he said.
Singapore and Malaysia had earlier agreed to a two-year suspension of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) Project, with Malaysia paying Singapore $15 million for abortive costs incurred due to the suspension.
Asked about any cost involved in suspending the RTS, Mr Loke said there will be costs, but this has to be determined by a review.
Mr Khaw also said that the civil aviation authorities of both countries will work together to develop GPS-based instrument approach procedures for Seletar Airport.
This is in place of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) procedure that Singapore has withdrawn, he added. "We will introduce GPS-based instrument approaches from both the north over Pasir Gudang and south over Singapore island. This is because airplanes take off and land into the wind. With North-East and South- West wind directions at different times of the year, both approaches are needed," Mr Khaw said.
He added that the procedures are expected to be published soon, and will improve safety for flights using Seletar Airport.
The press conference by the ministers came after Singapore and Malaysia reached an agreement on recent air issues last week.
Mr Khaw and Mr Loke had said in a joint statement on Saturday that "in the spirit of bilateral cooperation", Singapore will withdraw the Instrument Landing System (ILS) procedures for Seletar Airport, while Malaysia will indefinitely suspend its permanent Restricted Area (RA) over Pasir Gudang.
The agreement, implemented by the civil aviation authorities of both countries last Friday, paves the way for Malaysian carrier Firefly to begin flying into Seletar on April 21, more than four months after they were suspended.
On Monday, Mr Khaw said both ministries have reached a "win-win outcome" after several rounds of discussions to understand each other's concerns and needs.
He also noted that a high-level committee has been set up to review the existing airspace arrangement where Singapore air traffic controllers manage airspace over southern Johor. It will be co-chaired by Singapore's Permanent Secretary for Transport and Malaysia's Secretary General of Transport.
