KUALA LUMPUR, May 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysia''s Land Public Transport
Commission (SPAD) and the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) have
appointed consultants to carry out architectural and engineering study on the
proposed Malaysia-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS).
According to a joint press statement issued after the 9th meeting of the
Malaysia-Singapore Ministerial Committee (JMC) for Iskandar Malaysia today, SPAD
and the LTA had jointly awarded the tender for the RTS Link Joint Engineering
study on May 2.
"The architectural and engineering consultancy study tender was awarded to
the consortium of AECOM Singapore Pte Ltd, AECOM Perunding Sdn Bhd and SA
Architects Sdn Bhd," it said.
It said the study would determine the technical parameters for the RTS
Link between Singapore and Johor Bahru in order to achieve a convenient and
cost-effective system that is well-integrated with public transport services on
both sides.
The architecture and engineering consultancy consists of two phases.
In Phase I, which is expected to be completed by end-2012, the consultant
will look into technical parameters and propose options for the RTS Link.
The JMC for Iskandar Malaysia will then decide on the option to be further
studied in Phase II.
The statement said the 9th JMC for Iskandar Malaysia was jointly chaired by
Malaysia''s Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed
Yakcop and Singapore''s Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan.
Present at the meeting held at Pulau Springs Resort, Johor Bahru, were Johor
Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman and Singapore''s Minister for Transport
Lui Tuck Yew.
The establishment of the JMC for Iskandar Malaysia was first announced by
the prime ministers of Malaysia and Singapore in Langkawi following their
meeting in May 2007, with the aim of facilitating cooperation between the two
countries in relation to Iskandar Malaysia.
At today’s meeting, JMC agreed to the adoption of the terms of reference for
a newly formed work group on industrial cooperation to promote mutually
beneficial twinning of economic activities between Iskandar Malaysia and
Singapore.
At the January 2012 Leaders’ Retreat, the two prime ministers have directed
that the new work group to be formed for the cooperation.
The statement said the work group would focus on facilitating high value
added projects in manufacturing and services sectors which include among others
advanced materials manufacturing, electrical & electronics, food processing and
creative services.
At the meeting, JMC also agreed to further strengthen bilateral
collaboration on the environment and tourism.
Officials from both sides have agreed to continuously collaborate in
capacity-building programmes in enhancing the skills and knowledge of officials
involved in environmental management, environmental awareness and river
cleaning.
Both sides will also explore additional tourism collaborations given the
number of new attractions in Iskandar Malaysia and Singapore that are almost
ready.
-- BERNAMA
MAS JR