Malaysia and Singapore reaffirm commitment to bilateral security cooperation through Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link joint cross-border emergency response exercise

1. The Government of Malaysia and the Government of the Republic of Singapore have reaffirmed their shared commitment to safeguarding the security and resilience of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, following the successful conduct of the RTS Link Malaysia-Singapore Cross-Border Joint Exercise: Field Training Exercise (FTX) on 27 October 2026. The exercise culminated in the Joint Closing Ceremony held on 28 October 2026 at the RTS Wadi Hana Depot, Johor Bahru, co-officiated by The Honourable Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution bin Ismail, Minister of Home Affairs of Malaysia, and Her Excellency Ms. Sim Ann, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Second Minister for Home Affairs of the Republic of Singapore.

Joint Cross-Border Emergency Response Exercise

2. The RTS Link represents an important milestone in Malaysia-Singapore connectivity, strengthening cross-border mobility and supporting closer economic, social and people-to-people ties. With the capacity to serve up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction, ensuring the safety and security of RTS Link passengers, infrastructure and operations is a shared priority for both countries.

3. The joint exercise tested the operational readiness and inter-agency coordination and 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. This included the undertaking of joint firefighting operations, medical triage and casualty evacuation, as well as coordinated cross-border emergency response.

4. Several Malaysian government agencies and strategic partners, including the Johor State Government, as well as Singaporean government agencies were involved in the exercise. We would also like to express our appreciation to the Johor State Government for its valuable support and cooperation in facilitating the exercise. This includes: Malaysia’s Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM), Malaysia’s Ministry of Health (MOH) and Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF); and Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

5. The exercise underscores the strong ties and close cooperation between Singapore and Malaysia in ensuring safe, secure and reliable cross-border travel when the RTS Link service commences. Both countries had also enacted and brought into force the necessary domestic legislation for the operationalisation of the RTS Link, which covers the management of cross-border incidents.^[1] Both countries will continue to strengthen preparedness and resilience in safeguarding the RTS Link as preparations continue

National Security Council, Prime Minister’s Department (MKN JPM), Malaysia
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Singapore

[1] This includes Singapore’s Cross-Border Railways (Border Control Co-location) Act 2026, which came into effect on 30 September 2026 and Malaysia’s Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link Act 2026 [Act 884] gazetted on 26 June 2026.