JOHOR BARU: After the Woodlands Checkpoint, the Malaysian entourage led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob continued their official visit to Singapore with a courtesy call to the city state’s President Halimah Yacob.

       Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said this was followed by a discussion with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that lasted close to 50 minutes.

       “Both premiers discussed many issues, including the sea Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) via ferry and cruise, as well as the following phases for the air and land VTLs.

       “They also exchanged views about the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link and discussed reviving talks for the Malaysia-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR).

       “PM Lee also hosted a lunch to welcome us,” said Dr Wee, who is also MCA president, in a Facebook post on Monday (Nov 29).

       The Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link project, first announced in 2010, was expected to be completed in 2026 to provide a more convenient way of border crossing between Malaysia and Singapore.

       Meanwhile the HSR, which was cancelled recently by former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during his administration, was supposed to connect Kuala Lumpur with the island republic.

       Earlier in the day, Dr Wee and the rest of the Malaysian entourage visited the Woodlands Checkpoint where Ismail Sabri and Lee launched the land VTL, which kicked off today.