MOHD FAHMI MOHD YUSOF New Straits Times 30 Aug 18;
ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor government says it plans to build a third link between Malaysia and Singapore to reduce traffic congestion on the Johor Causeway.
Menteri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian said the third link, once completed, would connect Pengerang in east Johor to Pulau Ubin in Singapore.
He also said the state government will draft a proposal for the construction of the link before submitting it to the federal government for approval.
“If we look at it, Pengerang is only three kilometres away from Pulau Ubin and east Johor is experiencing rapid growth.
“We also talked about implementing a new system at the third link, where people will only need to show authorities their passports once for verification,” he said during a press conference here today.
Present was UEM Sunrise Bhd chief executive officer and managing director Anwar Syahrin Abdul Ajib.
Osman said discussions on the new link would involve several agencies, including the state Implementation and Coordination Unit.
“The discussions will also involve the Singaporean government,” he said, adding that the link may be connected to the Pulau Ubin underground tunnel.
“The state government is always thinking about Malaysian citizens who cross into Singapore for work and the existing links are congested and packed,” he added.
Singapore yet to receive official proposal for third link
Bernama New Strait Times 30 Aug 18;
SINGAPORE: Singapore has yet to receive any official proposal from Malaysia on a third bridge linking both countries from the eastern side of Johor.
“We have not received any official proposal or communication from Malaysia regarding a third link between Singapore and Malaysia,” a spokesperson from Singapore’s Ministry of Transport said in a statement today.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian had earlier today said the state government had a plan to build the third link to ease traffic congestion at the Johor Causeway and second link crossing.
However, Osman said a proposal would first be sent to the federal government for due diligence.
The plan is to link Pengerang, Johor and Pulau Ubin in Singapore via a three-kilometre bridge and an undersea tunnel.--BERNAMA
Malaysia floats plan for third link to Singapore
Channel NewsAsia 30 Aug 18;
SINGAPORE: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Thursday (Aug 30) that there is "some" plan to build a third link with Singapore, amid reports that Malaysia's southern state of Johor was in talks to build a bridge that could be completed in three or four years.
Singapore is currently linked to Johor via the very busy Woodlands Causeway in the north and the Second Link Bridge at Tuas in the west.
Asked about a plan to build a third link, Mahathir told reporters in Kuala Lumpur: "There is some plan in the offing ... there is already some plan." He did not provide any further details.
In response to media queries, a spokesperson from Singapore's Ministry of Transport said: "We have not received any official proposal or communications from Malaysia regarding a third link between Singapore and Malaysia."
Earlier, Malaysian state media reported that the Johor government was researching the possibility of building a bridge from Pengerang near Kota Tinggi to the Pulau Ubin island in Singapore.
The proposed bridge could help ease traffic congestion on the two existing bridges which link the two countries, said Johor's Chief Minister Osman Sapian as cited by Bernama.
"Yesterday, I had a discussion with interested parties about the possibility of a third link from east Johor. We observed that the area was close to Pulau Ubin - they were only about 3km apart," Mr Osman said.
Mr Osman said it was likely that the link would have a different customs and immigration system from the one used at the Causeway and Second Link.
"We may use a new system. It could be that Singapore and Malaysia's immigration checks will be conducted just once either in Pengerang or in Pulau Ubin," said the minister.
The project was still at the research stage, he added, and findings would be presented to the federal government to be studied.
Mr Osman also commented on the RTS link, saying that the project would likely begin in the third quarter of 2019.
"The design of the RTS will remain as it was decided before. It's just that presently, there is an overlap of companies," he said.
The RTS, which is supposed to operate from Bukit Chagar to the Woodlands North station in Singapore, is expected to be able to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour when it is ready in 2024.
Mahathir's comment comes after he reviewed a series of infrastructure projects with China and with Singapore that had been pushed by his predecessor Najib Razak, whose coalition suffered a surprise defeat in the May election.
Mahathir has suspended plans for a high-speed rail link from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.
Source: Bernama/Reuters/CNA/hs(cy)/mz
Possible 3rd link to Singapore: Johor govt moots bridge to Pulau Ubin
Today Online 30 Aug 18;
KUALA LUMPUR/ISKANDAR PUTERI (Malaysia) — Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad confirmed on Thursday (Aug 30) that there is "some" plan to build a third link with Singapore.
Dr Mahathir was fielding questions from media in Kuala Lumpur following reports of the possibility of another link with the country's southern neighbour. He was quoted saying: "There is some plan in the offing ... there is already some plan." No further details were given.
The Johor state government had earlier expressed interest in another link to Singapore, this time to be built on its eastern flank.
Johor Chief Minister Osman Sapian said the proposed route is from the Sungai Rengit area in Pengerang, Kota Tinggi district direct to Singapore's Pulau Ubin.
"Yesterday I had a discussion with several interested parties. From the discussion, there is likely to be a third link in eastern Johor that will link to Pulau Ubin in Singapore.
"It will be developed like the Second Link crossing," he said.
Datuk Osman said the state government, which is formed by Malaysia's ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition, will send a proposal to the federal government on the matter before further plans can be made.
Over the years, several groups — mainly local business associations and guilds — had called on the previous Barisan Nasional state government to look at having a third link from Johor to Singapore.
The proposal was due to increasing traffic on the Causeway in Johor Baru and on the Second Link crossing from Tuas to Gelang Patah.
In late 2016, the Transport Ministry had recommended the proposed construction of a third link from Pasir Gudang to Singapore's Changi Airport.
However, the proposal remained in the discussion stage and no specific development was followed up. AGENCIES
Malaysia floats plan for third link to Singapore
Channel NewsAsia 30 Aug 18;
SINGAPORE: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Thursday (Aug 30) that there is "some" plan to build a third link with Singapore, amid reports that Malaysia's southern state of Johor was in talks to build a bridge that could be completed in three or four years.
Singapore is currently linked to Johor via the very busy Woodlands Causeway in the north and the Second Link Bridge at Tuas in the west.
Asked about a plan to build a third link, Mahathir told reporters in Kuala Lumpur: "There is some plan in the offing ... there is already some plan." He did not provide any further details.
In response to media queries, a spokesperson from Singapore's Ministry of Transport said: "We have not received any official proposal or communications from Malaysia regarding a third link between Singapore and Malaysia."
Earlier, Malaysian state media reported that the Johor government was researching the possibility of building a bridge from Pengerang near Kota Tinggi to the Pulau Ubin island in Singapore.
The proposed bridge could help ease traffic congestion on the two existing bridges which link the two countries, said Johor's Chief Minister Osman Sapian as cited by Bernama.
"Yesterday, I had a discussion with interested parties about the possibility of a third link from east Johor. We observed that the area was close to Pulau Ubin - they were only about 3km apart," Mr Osman said.
Mr Osman said it was likely that the link would have a different customs and immigration system from the one used at the Causeway and Second Link.
"We may use a new system. It could be that Singapore and Malaysia's immigration checks will be conducted just once either in Pengerang or in Pulau Ubin," said the minister.
The project was still at the research stage, he added, and findings would be presented to the federal government to be studied.
Mr Osman also commented on the RTS link, saying that the project would likely begin in the third quarter of 2019.
READ: Singapore, Malaysia to announce joint decisions on RTS, HSR soon, says Khaw Boon Wan
"The design of the RTS will remain as it was decided before. It's just that presently, there is an overlap of companies," he said.
The RTS, which is supposed to operate from Bukit Chagar to the Woodlands North station in Singapore, is expected to be able to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour when it is ready in 2024.
Mahathir's comment comes after he reviewed a series of infrastructure projects with China and with Singapore that had been pushed by his predecessor Najib Razak, whose coalition suffered a surprise defeat in the May election.
Mahathir has suspended plans for a high-speed rail link from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.
Source: Bernama/Reuters/CNA/hs(cy)/mz
Possible 3rd link to Singapore: Johor govt moots bridge to Pulau Ubin
Today Online 31 Aug 18;
KUALA LUMPUR/ISKANDAR PUTERI (Malaysia) — Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad confirmed on Thursday (Aug 30) that there is "some" plan to build a third link with Singapore.
Tun Mahathir was fielding questions from media in Kuala Lumpur following reports of the possibility of another link with the country's southern neighbour. He was quoted saying: "There is some plan in the offing... there is already some plan." No further details were given.
The Johor state government had earlier expressed interest in another link to Singapore, this time to be built on its eastern flank.
Johor Chief Minister Osman Sapian said the proposed route is from the Sungai Rengit area in Pengerang, Kota Tinggi district direct to Singapore's Pulau Ubin.
"Yesterday I had a discussion with several interested parties. From the discussion, there is likely to be a third link in eastern Johor that will link to Pulau Ubin in Singapore.
"It will be developed like the Second Link crossing," he said.
Datuk Osman said the state government, which is formed by Malaysia's ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition, will send a proposal to the federal government on the matter before further plans can be made.
Responding to TODAY's queries, a spokesperson from Singapore's Ministry of Transport said: "We have not received any official proposal or communications from Malaysia regarding a third link between Singapore and Malaysia."
Over the years, several groups — mainly local business associations and guilds — had called on the previous Barisan Nasional state government to look at having a third link from Johor to Singapore.
The proposal was due to increasing traffic on the Causeway in Johor Baru and on the Second Link crossing from Tuas to Gelang Patah.
In late 2016, the Transport Ministry had recommended the proposed construction of a third link from Pasir Gudang to Singapore's Changi Airport.
However, the proposal remained in the discussion stage and no specific development was followed up. AGENCIES
