Undersea tunnel between Johor and S’pore seen as an option

PUTRAJAYA 22 September - An undersea tunnel between Malaysia and Singapore was an option being considered by both countries, according to Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha.

He said the tunnel was being considered to realise the rapid transit system (RTS) between Johor Baru and Woodlands in Singapore as agreed upon by the two countries at their meeting in May.

An undersea tunnel involved high cost but it was an option that was more environment-friendly, he said.

"We have some options but still have to sit down seriously to discuss with the Singapore side to come up with an agreement on how to jointly develop this," he told reporters after an Aidilfitri reception at the ministry yesterday.

Kong said one option was to build another causeway which, he added, did not involve high cost but was not environment-friendly. Constructing a bridge was yet another option but the type of bridge would have to be determined because merchant vessels continued to use the Strait of Johor separating peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, he said.

"I think for the future development of the connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore, we cannot depend on the causeway alone. Trains may make only two or three trips a day ... but for the continual flow of people between Singapore and Johor Baru we need a more permanent and efficient transportation, besides taxis or buses," he said.

Under the agreement reached in May, Johor Baru and Singapore are to be linked by a rapid transit system by 2018.