Joanne Chan Channel NewsAsia 30 Mar 11;
The Joint Ministerial Committee also endorsed the recommendations by the Tourism Work Group on the development and marketing of a trans-boundary, joint eco-tourism attraction involving Singapore's Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Malaysia's three Ramsar sites of Sungai Pulai, Pulau Kukup and Tanjung Piai.
SINGAPORE: From 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 on Wednesday at the eighth working meeting of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee.
Currently, cross-border taxis are allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at just two places - Ban San Street near Bugis, and Pasar Bakti terminal in Johor.
There are some 400 authorised cabs which offer cross-border services - 200 in Singapore and 200 in Malaysia.
The Joint Ministerial Committee also agreed to boost connectivity by further increasing the quota for cross border bus services.
It noted that 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 will endeavour to gather international best practices in the implementation of a dual co-located Customers, Immigration and Quarantine system to complement the RTS link.
The Joint Ministerial Committee noted with satisfaction that Khazanah Nasional Berhad 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 is progressing well.
The Joint Ministerial Committee also endorsed the recommendations by the Tourism Work Group on the development and marketing of a trans-boundary, joint eco-tourism attraction involving Singapore's Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Malaysia's three Ramsar sites of Sungai Pulai, Pulau Kukup and Tanjung Piai.
The first phase will involve the twinning of Pulau Kukup and Sungei Buloh Wetland http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifReserve.
Singapore-Johor taxi curbs to be eased by July
Straits Times 31 Mar 11;
TAXIS authorised to ply between Singapore and Malaysia will be able to pick up and drop off passengers anywhere in their respective countries by July.
The July date was agreed on yesterday at a meeting of ministers from both sides, said a joint press statement from both governments.
The 400 such taxis that operate on both sides - 200 from each country - can currently pick up and drop off passengers at only two places: Ban San Street near Bugis, and Johor Baru's Pasar Bakti terminal.
Moves to improve cross-border transport links were agreed on when leaders from Singapore and Malaysia met at a retreat in May last year.
Yesterday, the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia followed up on these plans when it met for its 8th working meeting at the Grand Hyatt Hotel here.
Iskandar Malaysia is the development zone in south Johor that aims to boost the state's economy.
The meeting was co-chaired by Malaysia's Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nor Mohamed Yakcop and Singapore's National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan.
Also present were Johor Chief Minister Abdul Ghani Othman and Singapore's Transport Minister Raymond Lim.
The ministers noted that additional cross-border bus services between Singapore and Iskandar Malaysia had been approved, and were being implemented. They also agreed to further increase the quota on cross-border bus services, and approved a joint engineering study for a Rapid Transit System (RTS) link between Iskandar Malaysia and Singapore.
The RTS is scheduled to start operating by 2018.
Officials from both sides will also try to gather international best practices in implementing a co-located customs, immigration and quarantine system for RTS commuters. This is so that passengers will only need to clear border formalities once in each direction of travel.
The committee also noted that Malaysia's Khazanah Nasional and Singapore's Temasek Holdings have made good progress in talks to develop an iconic wellness township project, which is targeted to be launched in May.
A river cleaning project was also progressing well, and the committee endorsed recommendations to develop and market a cross-border, joint ecotourism attraction, the statement added.
