JOHOR BARU, Feb 14 – The Johor government will prioritise several solutions to improve connectivity between the state and Singapore to benefit the over 300,000 commuters who use the two land border crossings daily.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said he shared several important on this during a meeting with Singapore’s transport minister, S. Iswaran, during his visit to the republic.

He welcomed Iswaran’s suggestion for Johor and Singapore to closely monitor the development of the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) project as it is a priority for both countries.

"We also need to set short- and medium-term targets, so that the progress of the project remains on track.

"It is important in efforts to improve connectivity, not for business and logistics, but also the relationship between the people of the two countries,” said Onn Hafiz on Facebook.

The menteri besar left on a three-day official visit to Singapore on Sunday (February 12), aimed at enhancing relations between the republic and the state of Johor.

Onn Hafiz said more motorcycle lanes will be added to the Sultan Iskandar Building’s Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex.

"I reiterate the commitment delivered by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently regarding the additional motorcycle lanes,” he said.

Onn Hafiz was commenting on how Johor and Singapore could improve the connectivity via its two land border crossings and also the Johor Baru-Singapore RTS project with Iswaran, who is also the minister responsible for Singapore’s trade relations.

The Johor Causeway is considered one of the busiest land border crossings in the world, with more than 300,000 Malaysians working in Singapore and commuting daily from Johor Baru.

Onn Hafiz also shared with Iswaran the proposal to the federal government for the widening of the North-South Expressway’s route to Johor and also for a new ferry service from Puteri Harbour in Johor to Tuas in Singapore.

"This aims to be among the solutions in reducing congestion on the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link crossing,” he said.

Yesterday, he met with Singapore’s Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department — who is also Singapore’s Second Foreign Minister — Maliki Osman.