Once the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link) becomes operational next year, each train will carry more than 600 passengers and run at short intervals — with a peak capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction — leaving little room for error, said Second Minister for Home Affairs Sim Ann. 

"By executing the response plans correctly and swiftly, we will be better prepared to save lives, minimise damage and restore normalcy quickly," the second minister said in her closing address at the Malaysia-Singapore cross-border joint field training exercise on Wednesday (Oct 28).

The field training exercise (FTX) on Oct 27 involved Malaysia's Royal Malaysia Police, Border Control and Protection Agency, Fire and Rescue Department, Ministry of Health, and Malaysian Armed Forces; and, Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Police Force, and Singapore Civil Defence Force.

During the FTX, participants were tested on their operational readiness and inter-agency coordination.

This includes the interoperability of both countries in ensuring timely and effective joint management of a complex emergency scenario that might occur on the RTS Link train and tracks. 

Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Malaysia's National Security Council (NSC) said in a joint statement on Wednesday that the scenarios included joint firefighting operations, medical emergency and casualty evacuation, as well as coordinated cross-border emergency response.

Sim also revealed in her speech that operational agencies from both countries have been building joint plans since 2023 — developing clear frameworks, laws and operational protocols that guide how frontline responders handle cross-border incidents once the RTS Link service begins.

During the exercise, Malaysia's operations centre at Bukit Chagar also maintained real-time communications with ICA's integrated operations centre.

"This enabled both countries to establish a joint situation picture and communicate their action plans to each other. In any crisis, accurate and timely information is the foundation for an effective response to mitigate the safety or security threat," Sim said.

Both MHA and NSC pointed out that the exercise underscores the strong ties and close cooperation between agencies from the two countries in ensuring safe, secure and reliable cross-border travel when the RTS Link service commences.

They also noted that both countries have put in place the necessary domestic legislation for the operationalisation of the RTS Link, which covers the management of cross-border incidents.

Malaysia passed its RTS Link Bill on Feb 12, while Singapore passed its Cross-Border Railways (Border Control Co-Location) Bill on May 5.

The closing ceremony on Wednesday was co-officiated by Malaysia's Minister of Home Affairs Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. 

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editor@asiaone.com