Singapore has yet to receive “any official proposal or communications from Malaysia” related to the construction of any new road link between Johor and the Republic, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday (27 Dec).
Speaking in response to media queries on comments made by Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian on Thursday (27 Dec) regarding his upcoming discussions in Singapore, MFA added that while matters surrounding the ongoing territorial dispute will be discussed by both nations at the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) for Iskandar Malaysia in January next year, it noted that “the JMC for Iskandar Malaysia does not have the mandate to discuss issues related to the Johor Bahru port limits issue”.
The Straits Times reported that Mr Osman was “quoted by Malaysia’s Chinese-language press as telling reporters after an event in Kota Tinggi” on Thursday (27 Dec) that “Johor will build a third link between Malaysia and Singapore next year, with Johor hosting the bridge in the south-eastern district of Pengerang”.
Speaking at a press conference in Iskandar Puteri on 30 Aug, Mr Osman announced that the state government will draft a proposal to submit to the federal government and for the latter’s subsequent approval.
“If we look at it, Pengerang is only three kilometres away from Pulau Ubin and east Johor is experiencing rapid growth,” he noted.
Mr Osman added that the implementation of “a new system … where people will only need to show authorities their passports once for verification” is also part of the government’s plans for the proposed third link.
Currently, only the Causeway connecting Johor Bahru and Woodlands as well as the Second Link linking Tanjung Kupang to Tuas serve commuters who travel back and forth between Singapore and Malaysia via land motor vehicles.