Media Statement by Johore DAP Policy Director and Senai State Assemblyperson Wong Shu Qi on 5rd March 2015 (Thursday):
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Khalid Nordin or Dato’ Sri Abdul Wahid Omar should clarify if anything has been achieved on the coming RTS project in the Joint Ministerial Committee meeting
It’s again very shocking to read the news released by both the Johore state government and Singapore Transport Ministry that the RTS project is still pending due to some communication problems.
The RTS is expected to start operation by 2019, yet I don’t think the date is viable now since both governments are pushing bucks to each other for delaying the project.
In an earlier press release, the Johor State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Executive Committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad told the public that the state government has already announced Bukit Chagar as the terminal station. Yet, the Malaysia-Singapore Join Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM) didn’t come out with any conclusion in their last meeting held on February 6.
On the other hand, Singapore Transport Ministry insisted that they have not received any official confirmation on terminus from Malaysia government according to their press release in responding Datuk Hasni Mohammad’s statement.
This proves only how bad the communication is between two neighborhood nations.
As leaders who take part in the Joint Ministerial Comimtee, either Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Khalid Nordin or Dato’ Sri Abdul Wahid should clarify if anything has been achieved especially on the coming RTS project in the Joint Ministerial Committee meeting.
Datuk Seri Khalid Nordin should not remain silent as if this has nothing to do with him since he is the Menteri Besar of Johor and also the representative of Malaysia in the meeting.
He should at least clarify if Federal Government is informed of the decision made by state government that terminal station of the RTS would be located at Bukit Chagar. Meanwhile Dato’ Sri Abdul Wahid Omar should also make it public if he has informed his Singaporean counter part on the decision of terminus.
It is clear that we need investments from neighboring nations while better cooperation among the countries in same region will only benefit us. Especially since Malaysia holds the position of ASEAN Chair in 2015.
Any further delay to improve the public transportation and attitude of passing bucks in dealing with such an important infrastructure project will only cause trouble to Iskandar Malaysia.
Wong Shu Qi