Johor bahru: Malaysia and Singapore are making steady progress in their technical negotiations to finalize the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for co-located facilities at the Bukit Chagar Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex. This development is part of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project, according to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, these negotiations underscore the mutual recognition between the two neighboring countries that new border entry facilities encompass not only physical infrastructure and systems but also legal and regulatory considerations. Saifuddin emphasized the importance of these discussions, highlighting the high level of coordination, organizational discipline, and trust between the two nations.

Saifuddin shared these insights during a press conference following his visit to the CIQ Complex and Bukit Chagar Station to inspect the progress of the RTS Link project. The co-located concept, which has been agreed upon by both countries, will allow Singapore enforcement agencies to operate in Malaysia, while Malaysian enforcement agencies will have a presence in Singapore.

He elaborated on the co-located approach, stating that enforcement agencies from Singapore will be stationed in Malaysia, while Malaysian agencies will operate in Woodlands within the same facility. This arrangement will cover various operations, including immigration inspections, security duties, incident management, operational communications, and emergency response, all of which require meticulous coordination.

For the co-located concept to come to fruition, both Malaysia and Singapore must address their respective domestic legal matters related to the RTS Link's operation. Saifuddin noted that Malaysia has already passed the Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link Bill 2026, which is currently in the gazettement process.

In parallel, media reports indicated that Singapore's Parliament recently passed a Bill establishing principles and powers for managing cross-border incidents involving the RTS Link. This legislation will facilitate Malaysian CIQ operations in Singapore and vice versa.

The Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link, slated to be fully operational in January next year, will connect Bukit Chagar Station in Johor Bahru with Woodlands North Station in Singapore, promising a travel time of just five minutes.