By Joanne Chan | Posted: 30
March 2011 2052 hrs
SINGAPORE: From July, taxis plying both sides of the
Singapore-Malaysia border will be able to pick up and drop off
passengers anywhere in their domestic countries.
The implementation date of this taxi rule change was agreed on
Wednesday at the eighth working meeting of the Malaysia-Singapore
Joint Ministerial Committee.
Currently, cross-border taxis are allowed to pick up and drop off
passengers at just two places - Ban San Street near Bugis, and
Pasar Bakti terminal in Johor.
There are some 400 authorised cabs which offer cross-border
services - 200 in Singapore and 200 in Malaysia.
The Joint Ministerial Committee also agreed to boost connectivity
by further increasing the quota for cross border bus
services.
It noted that additional cross-border bus services between
Singapore and Iskandar Malaysia have been approved and are being
implemented.
A joint engineering study for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link
between Iskandar Malaysia and Singapore was also approved.
The statement said officials from both sides will endeavour to
gather international best practices in the implementation of a dual
co-located Customers, Immigration and Quarantine system to
complement the RTS link.
The Joint Ministerial Committee noted with satisfaction that
Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Temasek Holdings have progressed in
the discussion on the development of an iconic project with a
wellness theme in Iskandar Malaysia.
The project is targeted to be launched in May 2011.
The statement also said the river cleaning project in the Iskandar
Malaysia is progressing well.
The Joint Ministerial Committee also endorsed the recommendations
by the Tourism Work Group on the development and marketing of a
trans-boundary, joint eco-tourism attraction involving Singapore's
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Malaysia's three Ramsar sites of
Sungai Pulai, Pulau Kukup and Tanjung Piai.
The first phase will involve the twinning of Pulau Kukup and Sungei
Buloh Wetland Reserve.
-CNA
