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SINGAPORE : Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to work together to improve the connectivity and ease of movement of people and goods on both sides of the Causeway.
The options include broadening the Causeway, and a new bridge to link the eastern part of Johor to Singapore is also being explored.
The prime ministers of both countries also want to move forward with implementing the Points of Agreement (POA) signed between Malaysia and Singapore almost two decades ago.
A ceremonial welcome awaited new Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak at the Istana where he was received by his Singapore counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong.
Both leaders said they had a good discussion, first between themselves and when they were joined by their ministers.
One outcome of the talks is a study on a new physical link between both countries.
Mr Najib said: "The eastern side is less developed and there is huge potential there, and we both agreed we should look at it in the medium and long term. There is no hurry. Let us commission a proper study and look at the viability of that."
Mr Lee said: "Malaysia is developing Penggarang, Desaru, linking up - there is a bridge across the Johor River which is being built. So for the medium to long term, the needs should be considered, and perhaps we should consider a new bridge linking up eastwards to that part of Johor.
"We agreed that these were areas we should get together and study, and this is something the joint ministerial committee can look into."
The joint ministerial committee will also study the possibilities of developing a wellness centre and an integrated township within Iskandar Malaysia.
On the growing volume of traffic along the Causeway, both leaders agreed that facilitating movement with ease is important.
Mr Lee said: "I expressed my full support for enhancing the connectivity and the ease of movement on both sides. And I suggested there might be other alternatives like broadening the Causeway or improving a rail link between the two sides, maybe linking up the two rail transport systems so that we could make it easy for people to travel back and forth in large numbers."
Mr Najib said: "With respect to the Causeway, I told Prime Minister Hsien Loong that I would not want to go down the same road and end up with another problem or another disappointment. We should agree on what to do. We agree on the objectives and let us look at how we can achieve those objectives. There could be other ways of achieving the objective."
The two prime ministers also discussed the POA, which was signed between Malaysia and Singapore nearly 18 years ago. Both leaders agree that this matter has dragged on for too long, and so they have now asked the two foreign ministers to look into the the Points of Agreement and implement them.
The POA states that the KTM railway station would be moved either to Bukit Timah first, or directly to Woodlands. But Malaysia wanted variations of the POA after it was signed.
Mr Lee said: "They are not easy issues. Otherwise, they would have been solved before. But they need to be resolved, otherwise they would continue to potentially trouble our relationship for a long time to come.
"I think one of the difficulties has been over the years, the issues have taken on their practical significance, but... because they have been explained and argued over, debated and positions have been taken... it is difficult to have the flexibility in discussions which are pragmatic and forward looking."
Mr Najib said: "We should not wait for another 18 years to resolve this problem, so let us put our minds together and put this behind us and move forward in terms of our relationship. We both recognise that there is much more to gain from productive and cooperative arrangement, rather than allowing these things to hamper and dampen the relationship.
"The basic principle is to make sure it is in the classic win-win mood in terms of moving the relations. We do not have to quantify that we win exactly the same amount as Singapore wins, or Singapore wins exactly the same amount as we win.
"As long as generally speaking, we have been seen as benefiting from resolving these problems, if we can have this kind of spirit, I do not think the problems are so insurmountable. I am confident we can move ahead resolving these legacy issues."
Meanwhile, another positive outcome is that a new consular office will be set up in Johor to attend to the needs of Singaporeans there. - CNA/ms
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