Malaysia, Singapore to open rapid border rail link

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysia and Singapore agreed Monday to set up a high-speed rail link between their border areas following a deal to shut down an old service dating back to British colonial rule.

In a joint statement, the two counties said a rapid transit system (RTS) will run from a metro station in northern Singapore to Malaysia’s Johor Baru city by 2018.

This followed an agreement to relocate a Malaysian-owned train station from downtown Singapore to the border.

In exchange for the relocation, Malaysia will receive plots of land in Singapore’s booming Marina Bay financial and recreation district.

The two former British colonies separated in 1965 after a troubled union, but Malaysia retained a train service that ended in Singapore’s port district.

Malaysia’s ownership of railway land that went deep into Singapore territory had been an irritant for decades but both countries agreed to resolve this and other outstanding issues including the supply of raw water to Singapore.

Malaysian minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop said Monday’s signing of the deal to move the railway station and build the RTS was “a new beginning for us in cooperation and attracting investments.”

“This signing puts an end to some issues which were there since September 1990, some 21 years ago,” he said.

Malaysia and Singapore have also agreed that a 60-40 joint venture company will develop four land plots in Marina South and two more in Ophir-Rochor in the island republic as “integrated developments.”

The two countries have not given any further details.

“It really takes the relationship to a different level,” Singapore Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam said at the signing, which formalises an earlier-agreed-upon deal.

“It’s a win-win… for both parties and promises much more. In that sense, in every sense, it is historic,” he added.

The Tanjong Pagar station, built during British colonial rule over the two countries, is to be vacated by July. It will be relocated to the Woodlands Train checkpoint at the border.

In addition to land disputes, the two neighbours have also squabbled over the price of the water that Malaysia supplies to resource-scarce Singapore, and access by Singapore’s military to Malaysian airspace.