HASHINI KAVISHTRI KANNAN New Straits Times 17 Jan 18;
PUTRAJAYA: Singapore has agreed to review the East Johor Straits Pilotage Guideline (EJS).
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said this was in order to relax the maritime traffic restriction of night operation of the vessels in Singapore waters.
He said the matter was agreed at the eighth Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat on Tuesday.
"At present the EJS Pilotage Guidelines permit vessels of more than 240 metres in length to transit the Straits only during daylight hours," he told reporters today.
Every year, he said, more than 6,000 vessels transit the Straits to enter Johor Port, Tanjung Langsat Port Terminal and other port facilities within Pasir Gudang Port.
"The current restriction limit the operational efficiency of Johor Port and at the same time creates unnecessary congestion and bunching of vessels in a very limited waterway.
"Therefore, the proposed review will create better navigational efficiency and productivity as well as to improve overall safety of navigation along EJS.
On a separate matter, in relation to the abolishment of toll charges at Malaysia's Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) and toll revision done by Singapore at the Causeway, Liow said Malaysia is also considering reviewing the toll rate at the Second Link.
Liow also shared that the country is hopeful of the latest search efforts on missing flight MH370, which began today.
"We are hopeful of the search efforts undertaken by Ocean Infinity. The next-of-kin have also responded well to the search," he added.
Liow said MH370 Response Team headed by Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) director-general Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman will be monitoring the search carried on daily basis.
