Malaysia is set to introduce a new law next year to pave the way for the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS Link), due to start operations in early 2027.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the Bill will be tabled in Parliament in February to enable co-located Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) checks at Bukit Chagar and Singapore’s Woodlands North station.
“Without this Bill, we’d have to amend 37 different laws. The simpler option is to draft one comprehensive law. Our window is the February sitting,” he said. The 4km rail link, slated for completion by December 2026, will carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction with around 40,000 people expected to use it daily.
Saifuddin said the law will allow immigration officers from both sides to operate across the border, streamlining clearance and avoiding duplication.
“It’s about making sure everything runs smoothly from day one,” he added. He also revealed that between January and July, the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) barred 17,658 foreigners from entry and seized RM1.9 million worth of contraband.
By early next year, AKPS will take over all 123 national entry points.
The ministry is also rolling out the Advanced Passenger Screening System (APSS), which flags travellers before arrival. A dry run with selected airlines is planned this year under the watch of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
“With APSS, we’ll know who’s coming in before they even board the plane,” Saifuddin said.
