Over the water: A couple sitting together at Stulang Laut with the under construction RTS Link stretching into the distance.
JOHOR BARU: The Johor government should prioritise traffic dispersal solutions as the Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link) project nears completion, say business groups.
“Our main concern now is how to ease traffic, especially from the Causeway. Once the RTS Link is completed, we will see 10,000 people crossing into Johor every hour,” said Johor Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Datuk Jeffrey Lai Jiun Jye.
“This, on top of the existing traffic congestion, requires an immediate and proper solution. We must act now,” he added.
The RTS Link, which is due to be completed by December 2026, will connect Bukit Chagar here to Woodlands North in Singapore in a five-minute train journey.
The train ride is projected to have a peak capacity of 10,000 passengers per direction every hour.
Lai suggested for another RTS Link between the Second Link in Iskandar Puteri and Tuas, Singapore, to reduce congestion.
“This would allow investors heading to Forest City to use an alternative route instead of the Causeway.
“It would also benefit businesses in Tuas and Jurong, which are known for their shipping industries,” he said.
Lai also said that Johor must be prepared, following last month’s signing of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).
“And we have just witnessed the opening of the Investment Malaysia Facilitation Centre Johor (IMFCJ) in Forest City, so all the policies and plans under the JS-SEZ are slowly coming into place.”
The IMFCJ in Forest City, which opened on Feb 18, is expected to help reduce red tape, accelerate project approvals and continue driving investments into the state.
“The spillover effect of the JS-SEZ would be a rise in demand for property in Johor, particularly in the 11 key economic sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, tourism, financial services, education and healthcare,” Lai said.
“This will attract workers, and they will want to live near their workplaces, creating a demand for housing and other facilities,” he added.
However, Johor Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice-president Segar Rajoo is concerned that more local talent would leave Johor with easier access to Singapore.
“Locals may lose interest in working in Johor because it will be easier to commute to Singapore for work.
“We should first allow the RTS Link project to be completed and assess its impact on traffic. From there, we can determine the best solution to manage the flow of people entering Johor Baru.”
He is of the view that the best way to disperse traffic was to introduce a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system connecting Forest City, Pasir Gudang and Kulai.
“We must prioritise our people. This would allow them to travel easily between key areas within the JS-SEZ,” he said.
