KL's terminal will be in Sungai Besi; single border checkpoint idea raised
By Robin Chan, The Straits Times, 8 Apr 2014
By Robin Chan, The Straits Times, 8 Apr 2014
SINGAPORE has named three possible locations on the island for the terminal of the planned high speed rail link between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
They are Tuas West, Jurong East and the city centre, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said, and a decision will be made "within the next year or so".
For Malaysia, the terminal will be located in Bandar Malaysia, at the current site of its air force base in Sungai Besi, said Prime Minister Najib Razak.
The site, about 15km from the Petronas Twin Towers, has been earmarked for redevelopment.
They announced the progress made on the rail link, targeted to be ready by 2020, at a joint media conference that wrapped up a two-day leaders' retreat here.
Transport links and the development of the Iskandar region in Johor seem to have been the focus of the latest meeting, part of bilateral talks held regularly by leaders of both countries since 2007.
They also said a new initiative is being explored: a single border checkpoint, with both the Singapore and Malaysia Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complexes sited at one location.
They emphasised the need to cooperate to develop the Iskandar Malaysia project, which will benefit both economies. Pinpointing manufacturing, Mr Lee said it will create better jobs for both sides.
The rail link was proposed at the retreat in Singapore in February last year. Yesterday, Mr Lee said Tuas West is being considered due to its closeness to the border while Jurong East is set to become a "major transportation, economic and financial zone for Singapore". The city centre would be "ideal", but is the most challenging due to the cost and size of the land required, he added.
Mr Lee noted that many areas of the rail project need to be settled: from design, finance and governance, to security and immigration requirements. "These are things we must work at, and the officials must work at, in a very focused way to get all of the pieces to fall into place in good time in order to get the project done."When asked if there was a need to push back the 2020 target date, Datuk Seri Najib said it was too early to revise it. The target was intentionally set at the start "to be ambitious" so as to get both sides to focus on it, he added.
As for the proposed single border checkpoint, Mr Najib said it can be seen working between France and Britain, and between Germany and Poland. "It will be the first in this part of the world."
Mr Lee said the checkpoint can be done for the high-speed rail link and the proposed Rapid Transit System (RTS) between Singapore and Johor Baru, as it can be built from scratch. But it would be more difficult at existing road links - at the Causeway and Tuas - as separate CIQ buildings already exist, he added.
A "friendship bridge" as an additional road link is also a possibility, but that would be far into the future, both leaders stressed.
Mr Lee said Singapore's focus is on improving the efficiency at the two checkpoints, where the queue is "very long".
As for the RTS between Singapore and Johor Baru, 27 options are being considered, Mr Najib said, adding that a decision on where to locate the stations would be made "in the coming months".
Both leaders also said they look forward to the state visit of Malaysia's King and Queen to Singapore from April 29 to May 2.
Singapore ready to help in next phase of search
By Carolyn Hong, The Straits Times, 8 Apr 2014
By Carolyn Hong, The Straits Times, 8 Apr 2014
SINGAPORE stands with Malaysia and is ready to help in the next phase of the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.
Speaking after a two-day visit to Kuala Lumpur to discuss bilateral issues with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak, he said: "I would like to thank (PM Najib) for hosting (the Malaysia-Singapore leaders' retreat), particularly at this difficult time for Malaysia handling the aftermath of the MH370 incident.
"I expressed my sympathies to the Prime Minister, to the families of the crew and passengers on board the MH370 aircraft.
"Singapore stands with Malaysia in this tragedy. We participated in the search and rescue in the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca. And I told the Prime Minister we stand ready to help Malaysia also in the next phase of its investigations."
Responding, Datuk Seri Najib thanked Singapore for its prompt assistance, adding that it was heartening to note that Singapore was among the first nations to help.
Malaysia's Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told a press briefing later that Malaysia had received an offer of assistance based on Singapore's experience with the crash of a SilkAir plane in 1997, which killed all 104 people on board.
He also said that countries involved in the search for MH370 had no hesitation in offering help, and "definitely didn't talk about dollars and cents".
He also said that countries involved in the search for MH370 had no hesitation in offering help, and "definitely didn't talk about dollars and cents".
'Iskandar strategic to S'pore and Malaysia'
But Johor project needs to develop manufacturing sector, says PM Lee
By Robin Chan, The Straits Times, 8 Apr 2014
But Johor project needs to develop manufacturing sector, says PM Lee
By Robin Chan, The Straits Times, 8 Apr 2014
THE giant Iskandar Malaysia project in Johor state is a "strategic play" that can lift Malaysia above its global competitors and help Singapore maintain its competitive edge, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.
But to do so, investments in the fast-growing Iskandar region need to be channelled into manufacturing as well, not just residential properties and services.
Developing the manufacturing sector will help create jobs and attract investments, to build "an organic, comprehensive, dynamic centre for economic vitality in Johor", Mr Lee added.
He was speaking at a joint media conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak at the end of the retreat for leaders of the two countries. Both noted at the conference the importance of the Iskandar region for its "complementarities" with Singapore, and for deepening their integration.
Mr Lee also said Singapore will help Malaysia upgrade its vocational training, as the need for more skilled manpower will rise in tandem with Iskandar's growth.
This will allow Malaysians to take advantage of new jobs and higher pay, he added.
The Iskandar region has become an investment destination in recent years for people and companies keen to tap its potential as a residential area or a less costly business location near Singapore.
Joint projects led by Singapore's Temasek Holdings and Malaysia's Khazanah Nasional share the limelight with developments by companies like builder CapitaLand, and investors such as billionaire Peter Lim.
Howco Group, a British-based supplier of equipment to the oil and gas industry, is investing US$20 million (S$25.2 million) in a heat treatment facility that will complement its Singapore factory.
The new 210ha Nusajaya Tech Park, a joint venture between Ascendas and UEM Sunrise, is expected to create high-tech jobs, by catering to large and small companies in sectors like electronics.
Singapore stands to gain from these investments because of Iskandar's close proximity to the Republic. Mr Lee sees these companies tapping Singapore's financial services, infrastructure and industrial base.
He noted that land constraints prevent Singapore from accommodating many new projects or companies that want to expand. By working together, such projects could be suggested to Iskandar if they fit in with Malaysia's plans.
"It will give you a new flow of projects, which you can choose from, and it will benefit the residents of Johor, the workers from Johor, because there will be more jobs, more opportunities and, I think, better pay."
Datuk Seri Najib agreed: "It's going to be good for Iskandar's development and Malaysia as a whole. So it's what you will call a classic win-win situation."
In a joint statement, both leaders also supported collaborations between Singapore's Malay Heritage Centre and Malaysian agencies and universities to deepen cultural bonds.
One such project is to showcase traditional Malaysian dance and theatre art at the Singapore Malay Culture Festival in September.