Rilek1Corner

Tag: Johor Baru

  • Singapore Not Delaying Progress On Rapid Transit System

    Singapore Not Delaying Progress On Rapid Transit System

    Responding to media queries on Malaysian media reports that Singapore has been delaying a decision on the alignment of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link connecting Singapore and Johor Baru, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) said yesterday in a statement that this was incorrect.

    “Singapore has informed Malaysia in June 2011 that the RTS terminus in Singapore would be located in Woodlands North near Republic Polytechnic. However, to date, Singapore has not received official confirmation of the location of Malaysia’s RTS terminus in Johor Baru. Only upon confirmation of the location of the terminus can both countries proceed to finalise the alignment of the crossing between Johor Baru and Singapore,” said the MOT in a statement.

    Malaysian media reports had quoted Johor State Executive Committee Member for Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Hasni Mohammad as saying that Singapore was holding back on deciding the alignment for the RTS.

    At the recent Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) for Iskandar Malaysia meeting on Feb 6, Singapore and Malaysia agreed that the second phase of the joint engineering study on the RTS link would begin after the terminus location in Johor Baru is confirmed by Malaysia. This was stated in the joint statement issued by the Malaysian and Singapore governments immediately after the meeting. The Johor state government was represented at the meeting.

    The MOT said it looked forward to official confirmation from the Malaysian government on the location of the RTS terminus in Johor Baru. “Singapore remains committed to working closely with Malaysia on the RTS link, which will provide a boost to cross-border connectivity,” said the MOT statement.

    The RTS, if built, will connect Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system to Johor Baru. It will be the second rail link between Singapore and Malaysia, after KTM Intercity’s North-South line. The RTS is a two-station line designed for high-volume transit, with both sides targeting to finish the project in 2018.

    The first phase of the RTS joint engineering study was endorsed by the JMC in January last year.

    In September last year, some Malaysian media reports said the Johor Baru terminus would be located in Bukit Chagar, but there has been no official word.

    One of the key engineering considerations for the line is whether to build it parallel to the Causeway and above ground; parallel to the Causeway and underground or diagonally opposite the Causeway.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • RM2.4 Million In Unpaid Traffic Fines From Singapore Motorists Recovered By Malaysian Traffic Police

    RM2.4 Million In Unpaid Traffic Fines From Singapore Motorists Recovered By Malaysian Traffic Police

    Malaysian traffic police, in a six-day operation, collected more than RM2.4 million (S$900,000) in outstanding traffic fines from Singapore motorists.

    The operation, conducted from Dec 27 to Jan 1, caught 13,529 drivers with outstanding fines near and at Johor Baru immigration checkpoints.

    Johor Traffic Police Chief Baharudin Mat Taib told The Straits Times that more than 15,470 fines were paid during this period, with almost $500,000 paid in cash.

    The rest of the fines were settled by credit card.

    He added that Malaysian officers will continue to conduct such sting operations regularly.

    “We will do this regularly. I would say to all drivers: We are not targeting Singaporeans. We will (conduct these operations) against all errant motorists, including Malaysians,” he said.

    While Superintendent Baharudin would not confirm when the next sting operation would be, sources told The Straits Times that it would likely be conducted during the Chinese New Year period, when many Singapore vehicles head to Malaysia.

    In total, Singapore vehicles account for 313,661 – or 37.4 per cent – of the unsettled traffic summonses issued to non-Malaysians from 2000 to 2013, according to the Malaysian police.

    Many motorists with Singapore-registered cars who drive regularly into Malaysia told The Straits Times they were surprised when they were stopped at Malaysian police roadblocks.

    Mr Steve Keh, 40, a Singapore permanent resident who lives in Taman Perling in Johor and drives into Singapore daily for work, found himself on New Year’s Eve facing 17 outstanding fines amounting to RM2,550.

    For him, the fines – which were for offences such as speeding – dated back to 2013.

    “Of course, we have to pay; they take your passport and don’t let you leave with your car if you don’t pay,” said Mr Keh, who works in the maritime industry.

    Mr Francis Ng, a 55-year-old Singaporean who faced RM800 in fines, wanted a chance to explain himself and have a closer look at when and where the offences were committed.

    Mr Ng, who lives in Bukit Indah in Johor and drives to Singapore three to four times a week, had five offences dating back to 2012.

    “I don’t even remember some of the earlier offences. How do I know if it’s true?” he said.

    Superintendent Baharudin rubbished allegations from motorists that some of these offences were bogus.

    “We do not force people to pay their summonses without proof,” he said.

    “My advice to Singaporeans is to check whether they have summonses at the traffic police station and to please pay.”

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com