JOHOR BARU: Malaysia and Singapore are looking at the possibility of having a second ferry service between Johor and the island republic.
The matter was among several issues discussed during the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM) held at a hotel in Iskandar Puteri here on Thursday (Aug 11).
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed co-chaired the meeting with Singapore National Development Minister Desmond Lee.
Also present were Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and Singapore Transport Minister S. Iswaran as well as officials from both countries.
In a joint statement, Malaysia and Singapore agreed to focus on enhancing investments and innovation to drive economic recovery post-pandemic Covid-19.
This reinforces Iskandar Malaysia’s focus on social and economic recovery that is supported by a resilient ecosystem.
“The JMCIM recognises the importance of providing various transportation and other connectivity options for cross-border travel between Malaysia and Singapore.
“In this connection, the JMCIM welcomes the new ferry service between Singapore and Desaru, which began last month.
“The JMCIM notes that the Transportation Links Work Group (TLWG) will also study ways to enhance cross-border connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists and agrees for TLWG to study the feasibility of proposals for new ferry services from Puteri Harbour here to Tuas in Singapore,” it said.
JMCIM encouraged the Tourism Work Group to explore new possibilities for twinning activities between Singapore and Johor afforded by the launch of the new ferry service between Tanah Merah in Singapore and Desaru Coast in Johor.
The ministerial committee also said that both countries were actively studying Malaysia’s proposal to set up a Work Group on food ecosystem cooperation, as agreed in the last JMCIM meeting in December last year.