SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Transport (MOT) confirmed that it has agreed to Malaysia’s request to extend by a month the suspension period of the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link. 

This was done “in the spirit of bilateral cooperation”, MOT said in a statement on Monday (Sept 30).

It added that while extra costs incurred by Singapore during the one-month extension period will be waived, Singapore “reserves the right to claim any additional costs incurred beyond Sept 30, 2019 should Malaysia request any further extensions of the suspension period”.

The suspension period now ends on Oct 31, instead of the previously agreed date of Sept 30, “without any cost to Malaysia”, MOT said.

The extension was announced on Sunday by Malaysia’s Ministry of Transport in a media statement.

In May, the two countries agreed to suspend the construction of the RTS Link until Sept 30 at Malaysia’s request. As part of the agreement, Malaysia would reimburse Singapore for the abortive costs incurred (around S$600,000) due to the suspension.

During the suspension period, Malaysia would decide if it intends to proceed with the RTS Link project as it is.

The RTS Link, which connects Bukit Chagar in Johor Baru to Woodlands in Singapore, is expected to ferry up to 10,000 passengers an hour each way. The project was meant to be completed by 2024, but is now behind schedule with Malaysia repeatedly delaying confirmation of its joint-venture partner.

Based on a bilateral agreement signed in January last year, a joint-venture company comprising Singapore’s SMRT and Malaysia’s Prasarana Malaysia should have been constituted by June 30 last year.

The company should also have been appointed as the RTS Link operator through a concession agreement with Singapore's Land Transport Authority and the government of Malaysia by Sept 30 last year.

Both milestones were missed. Malaysia then asked for an extension until March 31 this year, to confirm its joint-venture partner.

On April 1, Putrajaya said it had asked for a six-month extension (until Sept 30) from Singapore before making a decision on the RTS, to enable the Malaysian government to examine several issues including the cost of implementing the project.