MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE COMMENCE JOINT-STUDY ON RAIL SYSTEM

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Singapore have started a joint
study into the proposed rapid transit service connecting Johor Baharu and the
island-state, Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha said.

The study would take at least six months, under which they would look into
such issues as the type of connections and the sites for the stations, he added.

The proposed rail system is part of the land swap agreement signed by both
governments in 2010 for the relocation of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad’s (KTMB)
station in Tanjung Pagar, Singapore in exchange for the development of six
parcel of land in the republic.

"We need to see what is the best system for Johor Baharu and Singapore,
whether it will be on the ground, bridge or tunnel," he told reporters after
witnessing the handing over of a van by the Japanese government to Damai
Disabled Persons Association of Selangor and Federal Territory (Damai), here,
on Wednesday.

He said on Malaysia’s side, the station for the proposed rail link would be
at JB Sentral.

Kong said the proposed project would help ease traffic congestion at the
causeway where an estimated 100,000 motorists commute daily.

"There is a huge movement of people between Johor Baharu and Singapore, and
we need to have better connectivity and convenience, and to reduce the number of
traffic using the causeway," he added.

Earlier, Kong said the Transport Ministry was engaging Damai in its road
safety advocacy programme.

He also expressed regrets that many able persons in the country became
handicapped due to road accidents.

The Japanese government’s Grassroots Human Security Projects has contributed
RM13.5 million to 120 projects in Malaysia since 1989.
-- BERNAMA