Johor govt to request for bus services for RGL and PCA travellers
JOHOR BARU (Aug 17): The state government will make a request soon to the Johor Public Transport Corporation (PAJ) to provide bus services for the convenience of pedestrians using the Johor Causeway under the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) schemes for cross-border travel. The RGL enables cross-border travel for essential business and official purposes between Malaysia and Singapore while the PCA allows the residents of both countries, who hold long-term immigration passes for business and work purposes in the other country, to enter that country for work. State Public Works, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Mohd Solihan Badri hoped the effort could lighten the burden of those who have to cross the Johor Causeway by foot since public transportation services are still not allowed. He said a discussion would be held to ensure the provision of the services did not breach any rules. “We saw several groups of pedestrians carrying their bags on the Johor Causeway today, we sympathise (with their situation), we will make a request to PAJ to provider bus services to the border of Singapore, with approval from the authorities. “At the same time, PAJ can ferry travellers entering Malaysia via the Johor Causeway. We will use a small coach bus so that it will be able to make U-turns on the Causeway,” he told reporters after observing border crossings under the schemes. Also present was Johor Immigration Department director Baharuddin Tahir. Earlier, he Mohd Solihan observed the border crossing process at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI), Bukit Chagar. He said that from 7am to 9.30am, some 300 people crossed the border to enter Malaysia through the Causeway. Meanwhile, Baharuddin said the department would also propose to the government to streamline the operating hours at the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) near Iskandar Putri to be the same as BSI’s. At present, the KSAB operates 24-hours a day while the BSI operates from 7am to 7pm. - The Edge Markets
