The Malaysia-Singapore cross-border joint field training exercise for the RTS Link – Closing address by Ms Sim Ann, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Second Minister for Home Affairs

Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Minister of Home Affairs, Malaysia,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. Good afternoon.


Introduction: A Shared Responsibility

2. It is my pleasure to join you this afternoon for the closing ceremony of the Malaysia-Singapore Cross-Border Joint Field Training Exercise for the RTS Link.

3. Let me begin by thanking the Government of Malaysia for graciously hosting this exercise. From preparing the venue here at the Wadi Hana Depot to facilitating the smooth border crossing of our officers, our Malaysian hosts have shown great warmth and hospitality.

4. I would also like to thank the agencies, planners and officers from both countries. Many of you have put in significant amounts of time and effort to plan the scenario that we have just observed. This exercise has only been possible because of your careful preparation, close coordination and hard work.

5. The RTS Link is more than a transport connection. For the many Malaysians and Singaporeans who cross the border every day – to work, to study, and to visit family and friends – it will make the journey faster and more convenient. With the expanded capacity and greater convenience, the RTS Link will bring our peoples, communities and economies closer together, and deepen the ties between Malaysia and Singapore.

6. Underpinning the RTS Link model is a shared responsibility between our two countries. Commuters who board the RTS Link will expect their journey to be safe and secure – and if something should go wrong, help will come quickly, no matter which side of the border they are on. Meeting this expectation is a responsibility that our two countries must shoulder together.

Coordinate: A Cross-border Response

Building on Longstanding Cooperation

7. Allow me now to highlight what makes the RTS Link’s cross-border operating environment distinctive and more challenging.

8. Each train will carry more than 600 passengers and run at short intervals, giving the system a peak capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction. Each trip will take only five minutes.

9. Any disruption or emergency could, at short notice, affect a large number of passengers – on a train travelling between two countries, each with its own laws, agencies and command structures.

10. Responding to an incident on board a moving cross-border train will therefore require swift information-sharing and coordination between agencies from both countries so that collectively we can deliver a coherent response to ensure the safety of passengers.

11. There are unique and new operational challenges for officers to navigate. Fortunately, operational cooperation between Malaysia and Singapore is not new. Our two countries have long worked together to manage one of the world’s busiest land-border crossings. Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, the Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defence Force have built strong working relationships with their Malaysian counterparts to manage safety and security incidents as they arise. This gives us a strong foundation on which to build a coordinated emergency response for the RTS Link.

Prepare: From Plans to Operational Readiness

Putting Joint Plans into Practice

12. Since 2023, operational agencies from both countries have been building on this foundation to develop clear frameworks, laws and operational protocols to guide how frontline responders handle cross-border incidents once the RTS Link Service opens.

13. Joint Standard Operating Procedures are essential. They set out clear operational actions all parties must carry out to support one another and to achieve mission success. But procedures on paper are only the beginning. Readiness is proven only when those plans are put to the test.

14. Last month, officers from both countries came together for a table-top exercise to stress-test these plans. This proved to be a useful opportunity for both parties to clarify their understanding of the operational processes that each agency would implement based on the agreed protocols during emergencies including natural hazards, medical emergencies, fires as well as public order and security incidents. It allowed agencies to deepen their understanding of each other’s operations, which will be critical for the RTS Link.

15. Yesterday, we took the next important step. We moved from the table to the field, putting these plans into action under realistic conditions, and testing how well agencies on both sides could operate together to respond to, and resolve, a cross-border incident.

Validate: Lessons From Today's Exercise

Testing Command, Deployment and Transition

16. Yesterday’s exercise tested our jointly developed protocols through an operationally challenging scenario: a simulated fire on board a stranded RTS Link train.

17. I was pleased to note that agencies from both countries had collaborated closely to manage the incident swiftly and professionally. Three outcomes stood out.

18. First, communication. Malaysia’s Operations Centre at Bukit Chagar and Singapore’s ICA Integrated Operations Centre maintained real-time contact throughout the management of the incident. 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.

19. Second, deployment. Officers and station operators from both sides of the border coordinated effectively to facilitate the deployment of personnel from the fire and rescue, law enforcement and border control services.

20. Third, command and control. Agencies demonstrated effective command and control in the management of the incident. I was also heartened to learn that each officer showed a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities, even in a fast-moving crisis. When everyone knows their part, the contingency response will be faster and more effective.

21. These are important outcomes. An emergency on board a crowded and fast-moving train leaves little room for error. By executing the response plans correctly and swiftly, we will be better prepared to save lives, minimise damage and restore normalcy quickly.

22. But an exercise is valuable not because everything goes perfectly. It is valuable because it allows us to learn safely, candidly, and together. I therefore encourage all participating agencies to study the observations from this exercise closely and discuss them openly with your counterparts. This will help yield insights into how we can improve our joint response plans – before a real incident happens, not after. These lessons will help us strengthen our plans and processes as we prepare for the start of the RTS Link Service.

Strengthen: A Shared Commitment

From Familiarity to Professional Trust

23. Today’s exercise is not an end point. It is one milestone in a continuing journey for agencies from both our countries. I am confident that all parties will continue to refine the operational protocols and exercise them together regularly as the RTS Link moves forward towards operationalisation – and beyond.

24. Repeated practice builds familiarity. Familiarity builds confidence. And through sustained engagement, mutual learning and working side by side, confidence grows into trust. The trust that will allow us to run the RTS Link operations effectively and safely to the benefit of tens of thousands of commuters who will enjoy the service daily.

Conclusion

25. Let me conclude by once again thanking the Government of Malaysia and the Johor State Government for hosting this exercise, and for working so closely with Singapore.

26. To all participating agencies, planners and officers from both countries: thank you for your professionalism, commitment and hard work.

27. Let us carry forward today’s momentum, keep strengthening the way we work together, and look forward to the commencement of the RTS Link.

28. My Prime Minister called this a “game changer” and it represents our joint commitment at the highest level to work together to unlock more potential and opportunities for both our countries and peoples.

29. Thank you.