JOHOR BARU: Malaysia and Singapore should expedite the proposed Rapid Transit System (RTS) to improve connectivity and accessibility between Johor Baru and Singapore.

Former Small and Medium Enterprises Association Malaysia president Teh Kee Sin said the RTS should be up and running before the High Speed Rail (HSR).

He said it made sense for the RTS to operate first before the HSR due to the inefficient connectivity at the Causeway between Johor Baru and Singapore.

“No one knows whether the project (RTS) will take off as announced as there seems to be no news on it,’’ Teh said when contacted.

In February 2013, Malaysia and Singapore agreed to build the HSR and the project was expected to be completed by 2020.

But Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong had in July this year announced the completion was pushed to 2026.

During the 2013 joint-announcement, Najib and Lee also announced the proposed Malaysia-Singapore link was expected to be up and running by 2018.

“We are hoping both governments will keep to the 2018 date and not push the date as the RTS is more viable,” said Teh.

He expressed hope Najib would give details on the RTS project during his two-day working visit to Johor on Nov 9 and 10 to attend Iskandar Malaysia’s 10th anniversary celebration and the Johor Umno Convention.

Johor Real Housing Estate and Developers branch chairman Datuk Steve Chong Yoon On concurred with Teh that the RTS should operate much earlier than the HSR.

He said it would be a catalyst for property development in Iskandar Malaysia as job creation and the higher population would lead to increased demand for housing in south Johor.

“It is a win-win situation for Johor and Singapore as both countries are economically dependent on each other,” said Chong.

He said it was only logical for Singaporean manufacturing companies planning to relocate their operations elsewhere to choose Iskandar Malaysia due to its close proximity to the republic.

“They can have the best of both worlds as Singapore and Johor Baru are less than 2km away and the improvement in connectivity and accessibility will benefit both countries,” said Chong.

The Johor Causeway, which is about 1.06km long, was completed in 1932 and links Johor Baru to Woodlands on the other side of the Straits of Johor. About 100,000 vehicles use it daily.

Johor and Singapore are also connected via the Second Link, a 1.9km dual three-lane carriageway linking Tanjung Kupang in Gelang Patah to Tuas in Singapore.