Swarm of jellyfish attacks numerous competitors, including Raja Kecil Besar Perak, during open-water meet in Teluk Senangin
The Singaporean and Malaysian Land Transport Authorities are currently in discussions to start cross-border bus services from Johor Bahru at 4am instead of the current 5am weekday start time. This move aims to reduce early-morning congestion at the Johor Bahru Checkpoint, as stated by Johor Works, Transportation, Infrastructure and Communication Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh.
The review process involves public bus operators such as SBS Transit (SBST) and SMRT, as well as some private operators. The authorities are considering aligning cross-border bus start times with local bus and MRT service schedules in Singapore, and exploring private operators’ interest in operating earlier services potentially at higher fares.
Currently, SBST’s service 160 departs Johor Bahru Checkpoint at 5am on weekdays and 5:50am on weekends/public holidays, while service 170 starts from Larkin Terminal at 5:20am on weekdays (5:30am weekends). The proposed 4am start would aim to ease the pre-dawn rush of Singapore-bound passengers identified by Johor state officials.
The review is part of broader efforts to improve cross-border commuting efficiency in anticipation of future infrastructure improvements like the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link, which is planned to operate from 6am to midnight when it opens by end-2026.
While there is no final decision yet, Singapore is actively evaluating Malaysia’s request to commence some cross-border bus services at 4am. The request was received by Singapore's Land Transport Authority on June 17, and was first reported by The Sunday Times on August 3. The aim of the earlier cross-border bus services is to provide a better service for early commuters and reduce congestion at the border.
In summary, the discussions between the two countries' transport authorities are ongoing, with the aim of starting cross-border bus services from Johor Bahru an hour earlier to ease early-morning congestion and better serve early commuters. The review process involves SBS Transit, SMRT, and some private bus operators, with no decision regarding the request having been made public yet.
- The authorities in Malaysia and Singapore are actively evaluating Malaysia's request to commence some cross-border bus services from Johor Bahru at 4am, as reported by The Sunday Times on August 3.
- The aim of the earlier cross-border bus services is to provide a better service for early commuters and reduce congestion at the border.
- The review process involves public bus operators such as SBS Transit and SMRT, as well as some private operators.
- The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link, planned to operate from 6am to midnight, is one of the anticipated infrastructure improvements that this review is part of.
