CROSS-BORDER SINGAPORE-JOHOR TRANSPORT GETS A BOOST

SINGAPORE, March 31 (Bernama) -- Come July, taxis plying both sides of the Singapore-Malaysia border will be able to pick-up and drop-off passengers anywhere in their domestic countries.

The implementation date of this taxi rule change was agreed at the eighth working meeting of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia here yesterday.

Currently, cross-border taxis are allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at just two places -- Ban San Street near Bugis in Singapore, and Pasar Bakti terminal in Johor.

There are some 400 authorised cabs which offer cross-border services -- 200 in Singapore and 200 in Malaysia, reported Channel NewsAsia quoting a statement from both authorities.

It said the committee also agreed to boost connectivity by further
increasing the quota for cross-border bus services.

Additional cross-border bus services between Singapore and Iskandar Malaysia have been approved and are being implemented.

A joint engineering study for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link between Iskandar Malaysia and Singapore was also approved.

The statement said officials from both sides would endeavour to gather international best practices in the implementation of a dual co-located Customs, Immigration and Quarantine system to complement the RTS link.

The committee noted with satisfaction that Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Temasek Holdings have progressed in the discussion on the development of an iconic project with a wellness theme in Iskandar Malaysia.

The project is targeted to be launched in May 2011.

The statement also said the river cleaning project in the Iskandar Malaysia
was progressing well.

-- BERNAMA