Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link passes 65% construction milestone on both sides; connecting span complete

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The RTS shuttle service will run between the Singapore terminus at Woodlands North station and the Malaysia terminus at Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru. 

The Woodlands North station – which is being constructed at a maximum depth of 28m – will be connected via an underground linkway to the immigration area. On the Malaysia side, the immigration facilities will also be located at Bukit Chagar station.

This means passengers only need to clear immigration authorities once – at their point of departure. Currently, passengers need to clear immigration on arrival as well. 

The Woodlands North station and CIQ (customs, immigration and quarantine) building, a three-storey structure with two basement levels, will be 10 times the size of a typical MRT station, LTA said.

The CIQ building is designed to BCA’s Green Mark Platinum Certification, with energy-saving equipment incorporated into its design and operations. These include features such as LED lighting, solar panels and a hybrid cooling system.

Both the station and CIQ building will be connected to the Thomson-East Coast Line Woodlands North MRT station via an underground concourse. 

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What you need to know about Malaysia’s digital arrival card

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THE ARRIVAL CARD IS SUBMITTED BYME. UPON ARRIVAL, WHAT DO I Accomplish?

Before going through the emigration counter, you may provide a current passport and an authentic online arrival card for validation.

Malaysia’s automatic access method, also known as an autogate, is also available to visitors from Australia, Brunei, Germany, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United States, and the UK.

When first-time visitors arrive, they must register and have their passports verified at a regular desk before using the autogate to leave.

You can enter and exit the country right away using the autogate if your card has already been registered on a prior visit.

DO YOU HAVE ANY Needs I SHOULD REMEMBER?

A current card is necessary for every arrival.

Your card may be appropriate for at least six months if you plan to arrive at one of Malaysia’s airports. Your card may have a minimum three-month validity if you plan to arrive through one of the area checkpoints.

MALAYSIA IS DOING THIS, WHY?

Malaysia wants to “attract foreign tourists and make regional income” under its Visa Liberalization Plan.

The Malaysian Immigration Department stated in a Twitter post on Friday that” this will guarantee Malaysia continues to lead in important companies funding and tourism in the Eastern place.”

A student go, a multiple entry visa facility, an Umrah transport visa, and an enhancement to the validity and enrollment period of visas and cultural visit passes were among the other initiatives that were implemented.

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Singaporeans in Bangkok advised to exercise caution, says MFA after Siam Paragon mall shooting

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Singapore: Following the fatal shooting at Siam Paragon store on Tuesday, October 3, Singaporeans in Bangkok are advised to practice caution.

The Singapore embassy in Bangkok contacted local authorities on Wednesday to see if any Singaporeans had been hurt or directly impacted by the shooting, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs( MFA ).

MFA continued,” There are currently no information of any Singaporeans being impacted by the capturing.”

” Bangalore residents are advised to exercise caution, keep an eye on local media, and follow local authorities’ guidelines.”

Singaporeans visiting Thailand are strongly advised to e-register with MFA & nbsp if they have not already done so. & nbsp,

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Plane crash probe: Singapore helping Malaysia authorities retrieve data from cockpit voice recorder

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A report on the preliminary investigation into the plane crash, prepared by the AAIB with the help of the United States National Transportation Safety Board, would be released within a month, said Mr Loke. 

“(United States National Transportation Safety Board) representatives were asked to assist in the probe because the aircraft was registered in the US.” 

US AVIATION EXPERTS AT CRASH SITE

Aviation experts from the US were also at the site of the plane crash on Monday to search for clues into the incident.

The experts were expected to be in Malaysia for a period of seven to 10 days to help in the investigation, said Shah Alam district police chief ACP Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim. 

The experts arrived in Malaysia on Sunday. ACP Mohd Iqbal said the operation to remove the wreckage will be completed by Monday. However, if it was not possible, officers will be stationed at the crash site to monitor the situation. 

Eight AAIB officers were also involved in the investigation. 

Earlier, Terengganu chief minister Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said the plane crash could have been caused by a problem on the wings. 

Based on visual evidence available to the public, the problem may be caused by either an aileron failure or a combination of both rudder and elevator failure, said Dr Ahmad, an aerospace engineer by trade and the former head of the Aerospace Department of Universiti Putra Malaysia. 

He added that he said the aircraft failures could also originate from various problems or a single issue.

These include maintenance issues, plane structural integrity failures, structural stress and cyclic fatigue, engine failures, flight control issues, avionics problems as well as human factors.

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Two dead after tour bus from Singapore collides with car along Malaysia expressway

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SEREMBAN: Two people were killed following an accident involving a tourist bus and a car on the North-South Expressway in Malaysia during the early hours of Monday (Jul 10). 

Rescue authorities identified the fatalities as the bus driver and an Indonesian woman who was a passenger. Five others were seriously injured.

Nilai district deputy police chief Mat Ghani Lateh said that the bus had been ferrying 19 passengers.

Fourteen of them were foreign nationals – four Indonesians, three Singaporeans, two Canadians, three from the Philippines and one each from China and Spain.

Preliminary investigations found that the bus, owned by La Holidays Travel & Tours, was travelling from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur before rescue authorities were alerted to the incident at about 5am. 

“The bus is suspected of hitting a bridge pillar on the right side of the expressway, before swerving to the left and hitting a Proton Wira car, which was in the left lane, and crashed into the left shoulder of the road,” he said.

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Higher risk of haze in southern ASEAN region between June and October 2023

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SINGAPORE: Weather and climate authorities on Monday (May 29) flagged a higher risk of haze in the southern ASEAN region between June and October this year amid expectations of a more intense and prolonged dry season. 

The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) made this announcement as it issued Alert Level 1, indicating the start of the dry season associated with the Southwest Monsoon in the southern ASEAN region.

“Persistent drier weather has been observed over most parts of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and southern Thailand in recent days, as the monsoon rain band moves north of the equator. 

“With a high likelihood of El Nino conditions developing in the coming months, the dry season is expected to be more intense and prolonged compared to recent years, and extend into October 2023,” it said.

Hotspot activities in the southern ASEAN region are presently still subdued, with 14 and 13 hotspots detected in the southern ASEAN region on May 27 and May 28 respectively, said ASMC.

A few localised smoke plumes were detected in parts of the region on some days in May, but no transboundary smoke haze occurrence has been observed so far.

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Singapore-JB RTS Link on track to start operations by end-2026, construction at Singapore side hits halfway mark

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JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project is on track to be completed by end-2026 and construction has reached the halfway mark on the Singapore side.  Speaking during a press conference in Johor Bahru on Thursday (May 11), Singapore’s Transport Minister S Iswaran said that constructionContinue Reading

Resumption of live pig exports from Indonesian island could take up to a year: SFA

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SINGAPORE/PARIS: The resumption of live pig production and exports from Indonesia’s Pulau Bulan could take up to a year, said the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on Tuesday (May 9).

Singapore stopped the import of live pigs from the island after African swine fever (ASF) was detected in some pig carcasses, said the agency last month.

The carcasses were from a consignment of live pigs from Pulau Bulan and have been removed from the abattoir line.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on Tuesday said Indonesia had confirmed an ASF outbreak on a farm on Pulau Bulan.

In a Facebook post, SFA said Singapore authorities would continue to assess the situation.

“Such food supply disruptions can happen from time to time. We will continue to work with the industry to diversify our import sources and strengthen our food resilience,” it said.

For example, Mexico was recently approved to export chilled pork to Singapore, SFA noted.

President of the Meat Traders Association in Singapore Alvin Kwek also added that its members have activated “more than 20 sources” of chilled and frozen pork from different countries.

They have sufficient stock of frozen pork to last for “months” should the supply chain for pork be disrupted, he said in a press release.

“We urge industry players and consumers alike to be open to alternative supply sources and remain flexible by considering using chilled or frozen pork from alternative sources.”

SFA also urged consumers to explore “other protein options”.

Citing Indonesian authorities, the Paris-based WOAH said the ASF outbreak had killed 35,297 pigs in a herd of 285,034 on a farm on Pulau Bulan.

The outbreak was detected on Apr 1 and confirmed on Apr 28.

Pulau Bulan is located within the Riau Islands and adjacent to Batam island.

ASF is not dangerous to humans but is fatal for pigs. It has plagued China for years, with an initial wave during 2018 and 2019 killing millions of pigs and leading to a dramatic decline in meat output that roiled global markets. China is facing a recent surge in infections this year.

The source of the Indonesian outbreak is still unknown but veterinarian authorities told WOAH that humans, vehicles, feed, flies and wild boar may have played an important role in the introduction of ASF on the farm.

They also confirmed that the investigation started after the disease was detected by Singapore’s SFA in imported pigs.

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Singapore and China to hold joint naval drills

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SINGAPORE: Singapore and China will hold a joint military exercise this week, their first combined drills since 2021. The exercise will be held from Apr 28 to May 1, said Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on Monday (Apr 24). “The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) conducts regular bilateral and multilateral exercisesContinue Reading