BY ZAZALI MUSA
The proposed RTS link which includes commuter trains will take pressure off the Causeway. — filepic
JOHOR BARU: The southern part of Johor, especially Iskandar Malaysia, will benefit immensely once the proposed Rapid Transit System (RTS) linking Johor Baru and Singapore materialises.
Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda) Johor branch chairman Datuk Steve Chong Yoon On said Malaysia and Singapore could look forward to better connectivity and accessibility with the RTS.
“This is good for thousands of Malaysians and Singaporeans using the Causeway daily to commute between Johor Baru and Singapore,” he said when contacted.
Chong hoped that both governments would speed up the implementation of the RTS which was slated to be up and running by next year.
The HSR is expected to be completed in 2020, but the completion date was pushed back by another two years to 2022.
During the joint-announcement Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his Singaporean counterpart Premier Lee Hsien Loong also announced the proposed Malaysia-Singapore RTS link.
“The RTS is more viable as there are thousands of people using the Causeway daily round the clock and it will cater to their transportation needs,: said Chong.
KGV International Property Consultants (M) Sdn Bhd director Samuel Tan Wee Cheng said a major problem between Singapore and Iskandar Malaysia was the inefficient road connectivity.
He said despite having two links, the Causeway in Johor Baru and the Second Link Crossing in Gelang Patah were not able to ease congestion at the two land links.
“The two are like clogged arteries and could burst any time as the congestion is heavy, especially during peak hours and public holidays.
“This has resulted in economic loss and opportunity cost as investors are deterred from investing in Iskandar Malaysia,” said Tan.
The RTS would take the pressure off the Causeway and save time as it would be station-to-station connectivity with customs and immigration integrated within it.
He said apart from manufacturing, property and retail sectors, other economic segments which would also benefit from the RTS include hospitality, tourism, food and beverage, medical, entertainment and education.
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