“A bill enabling co-located CIQ facilities for the Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS Link will be tabled in Parliament in February, paving the way for operations in 2027.”
Kuala Lumpur, 16th January 2026, 12.40pm – Legislation to facilitate border control arrangements for the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link will be tabled in Parliament next month, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Loke said the proposed bill is required to allow the co-location of Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities for the cross-border rail service. The bill is expected to be debated in February and finalised within the year.
“One of the government’s key steps is to introduce legislation that enables the co-location of CIQ facilities for the RTS Link,” he said on the sidelines of the Rehda CEO Series 2026 conference.
Under the co-location arrangement, Singapore immigration officers will be stationed at the Bukit Chagar RTS station in Johor, while Malaysian immigration officers will operate at the Woodlands station in Singapore. Loke said the arrangement reflects the close cooperation and mutual understanding between both countries.
The RTS Link is a 4km light rail system jointly developed by Malaysia and Singapore, connecting Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru with Woodlands North in Singapore. Once fully operational, the system is expected to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction.
Loke said the RTS Link is scheduled to begin operations in January 2027 and is expected to significantly ease border congestion, reduce travel time uncertainty and minimise productivity losses associated with daily cross-border commuting.
The rail link is also a critical infrastructure component supporting the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), as it will enhance cross-border workforce mobility and strengthen the integration of labour and business ecosystems between the two countries.
Beyond rail connectivity, Loke noted that existing cross-border transport modes such as buses and taxis will continue to play an important role for commuters and tourists, particularly as Malaysia targets 22 million visitors from Singapore this year.
Citing data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia, he added that Singapore was Malaysia’s largest destination for services exports in 2024, contributing RM58.5 billion, largely from travel- and transport-related services.
“This clearly shows that efficient transport connectivity is a key driver of tourism, services trade and broader domestic economic activity,” Loke said.
