SINGAPORE: The proposed High Speed Rail (HSR) link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore is making good progress.<\/p>\n
This was revealed in a joint statement after the 10th Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee Meeting for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM).<\/p>\n
The meeting was held in Singapore, and was co-chaired by National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan and Malaysia’s Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Abdul Wahid Omar.<\/p>\n
Also present were Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew and Johor’s chief minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin.<\/p>\n
The JMCIM said discussions over how to improve connectivity and linkages between the two cities have begun.<\/p>\n
The Rapid Transit System between Singapore and Johor Bahru is also on track.<\/p>\n
Both countries have agreed to work towards a preferred and agreed option by the end of this year.<\/p>\n
For now, people travelling between both countries can benefit from 20 cross-border bus services, up from the previous 16.<\/p>\n
Both sides are currently reviewing new landing points to enhance the bus network.<\/p>\n
More people have also applied for faster immigration clearance from Singapore into Malaysia last year, highlighting both countries’ progress in facilitating cross-border movement.<\/p>\n
Some 127,000 new applications for the Malaysian Automated Clearance System were made last year, taking the total number of applications since 2009 to nearly 372,000.<\/p>\n
The JMCIM also highlighted progress in areas like industrial cooperation, housing, tourism and the environment.<\/p>\n
It noted that cooperation in the areas of Advanced Materials Engineering (AME), Electronics, Creative Services and Food was gaining momentum.<\/p>\n
In the area of AME, Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to build up a regional ecosystem of suppliers across both countries to support the fast-growing oil and gas industry in Asia.<\/p>\n
In housing, construction has begun on Afiniti Medini, an urban wellness project in Iskandar Malaysia.<\/p>\n
The development is on track to be completed by the end of 2015.<\/p>\n
The first phase of a separate development in the area, Avira Wellness Resort, will be launched in the first half of this year.<\/p>\n
Singapore and Malaysia have also conducted five ecotourism-related workshops.<\/p>\n
Representatives from both countries jointly inspected the three Ramsar Johor sites, which are wetlands that are being primed for eco-tourism.<\/p>\n
The JMCIM said both countries are exploring collaboration in the MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conference, Exhibitions) sector for these sites.<\/p>\n
It also noted the good collaboration in the areas of river clean-up and environmental management.<\/p>\n
It said most of the identified action plans for river cleaning in Iskandar Malaysia have been implemented and are well on track.<\/p>\n
– CNA\/fa<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SINGAPORE: The proposed High Speed Rail (HSR) link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore is making good progress. This was revealed in a joint statement after the 10th Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee Meeting for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM). The meeting was held … Continue reading