ISKANDAR PUTERI, 11 FEBRUARY 2025: With the participation of the government, Forest City is expected to become a comprehensive transportation hub in the future, incorporating a road transportation network, a rail transportation network, and water ferry services.

In terms of the road transportation network, in 2023, Forest City collaborated with Causeway Link to open a route from Forest City to and from the Sultan Abu Bakar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (KSAB) at the Second Link. This route provides residents with a convenient transportation option for traveling between Malaysia and Singapore.

Syarul Izam, the vice president of Forest City, said, "Forest City and Causeway Link are joining hands again to comprehensively upgrade the bus routes in Forest City and achieve seamless connection with the Johor Bahru public transportation system. This upgrade includes the optimization and improvement of the routes from Forest City to and from surrounding shopping malls (Educity, NSK Nusajaya, AEON Bukit Indah), an increase in the frequency of the routes from Forest City to the Second Link, as well as the opening of the routes from Forest City to and from Kuala Lumpur on weekends." The upgraded bus network in Forest City will be better integrated with the Johor Bahru bus system, making residents' travel more convenient. The above - mentioned routes will be on trial operation on February 12 and officially launched on February 16. Passengers can inquire through the Causeway Link APP. As for the payment methods, in addition to paying in cash on the bus, passengers can also use the Manjalink bus card or directly pay with a MasterCard. These flexible payment methods are designed to meet the daily travel needs of passengers.

Rail transportation, as a recent hot topic, whether it is the highly - anticipated restart of the Kuala Lumpur - Singapore High - Speed Rail (HSR) or the construction plans of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) or Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) in Johor Bahru, the government departments are advancing them in an orderly manner. Forest City also expressed its anticipation to participate.

Experts proposed introducing water ferry services connecting Forest City and Singapore and opening a special passage connecting Forest City and the Second Link between Malaysia and Singapore, which will effectively relieve the existing customs - clearance pressure. The feasibility of the above plans is also being discussed with the government.

Meanwhile, according to Johor works, transportation, infrastructure and communication committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh, enhancing the transportation connectivity of Forest City through a dimensional transportation system is the top priority of the state government, which will ensure the successful development of the Forest City Special Financial Zone.

He introduced that the daily travellers as currently between 300,000 and 400,000 people crossed the Causeway and Second Link to travel between Malaysia and Singapore.

the Malaysian government would be introducing a single immigration clearance system at both Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) and Sultan Abu Bakar (KSAB) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complexes.

“This single clearance system can be used at both BSI and KSAB where we are looking at using it by March this year. This system uses facial recognition besides QR code and passports.

“It can make immigration clearance at the two land checkpoints, which is the Causeway and Second Link, much faster and allow more seamless travel between Malaysia and Singapore,” he added.

He said, the Johor state government is looking at developing a transportation network system that will be able to connect both FCSFZ and JS-SEZ.

that the Rapid Transit Link System (RTS), which connects Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru and Woodlands North in Singapore would be a game changer in travelling between both countries.

Mohamad Fazli also said the RTS was on schedule to be completed by end of 2026 where it would be operational by January 1, 2027.

“The RTS able to ferry 10,000 individuals at its maximum capacity either to Singapore or to Johor Bahru and discussions are underway to introduced a single immigration clearance system for both countries.

“With this in mind, the state government is looking at having either ART system or light rail transit system LRT at three corridors, which is the Iskandar Puteri line, Skudai line and Tebrau line,” he said adding that the Iskandar Puteri corridor line able to connect FCSFZ and JS-SEZ.

Mohamad Fazli said that the three - dimensional transportation system will effectively enhance the transportation hub status of the Forest City Financial Special Zone and better attract international financial investments. The state government will cooperate with multiple parties to actively promote relevant transportation development plans and contribute to the development of the special zone.