Sim Ann stresses shared responsibility for train safety at cross-border RTS Link exercise

Singapore and Malaysia held a joint cross-border exercise for the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link to test their emergency preparedness, inter-agency coordination and joint response capabilities.

Singapore’s Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs Sim Ann said ensuring the safety of the RTS Link was a shared responsibility. Both countries must strengthen cooperation and improve their emergency response capabilities to keep passengers safe.

Sim and Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, minister of Home Affairs of Malaysia, jointly officiated at the closing ceremony of the Malaysia-Singapore RTS Link Field Training Exercise at the Wadi Hana depot in Johor Bahru, Johor, on Wednesday (28 October).

In her speech, Sim said shared responsibility between Singapore and Malaysia is the cornerstone of the RTS Link’s operating model, adding that commuters from both countries expect safe and reliable cross-border journeys.

She said: “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 our two countries must shoulder together.”

The approximately four-kilometre RTS Link is expected to begin service in February next year, connecting Singapore’s Woodlands North station with Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru across the Johor Strait. The journey will take about five minutes, and the line can carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction.

Sim said any service disruption or emergency could affect large numbers of passengers within a short time. The train involved could be in the midst of travelling between the two countries, bringing different laws, enforcement agencies and command structures into play. “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.”

Sim said the RTS Link’s cross-border operations posed a new challenge for the officers involved. However, Singapore and Malaysia have built a strong partnership through their longstanding cooperation in managing one of the world’s busiest land crossings — the Causeway. This provides a foundation for the agencies to work together on response mechanisms for the RTS Link.

In his speech, Saifuddin said the RTS Link could face threats on several fronts, including physical attacks, cyber intrusions, technical failures and information crises. These risks could arise simultaneously and cross national borders.

He said Malaysia is actively promoting the concept of comprehensive security and urged all parties to avoid working in silos. Keeping borders secure cannot be left solely to enforcement agencies, he explained. It also requires the participation of government departments, asset operators and strategic partners in the private sector.

The RTS Link Field Training Exercise, held on Tuesday (27 October), simulated a fire on a train travelling from Woodlands North to Bukit Chagar. Both countries then activated their emergency response mechanisms, with agencies working together to evacuate passengers, provide medical assistance and set up cordons to secure the scene.

About 1,000 personnel from various departments and units in Singapore and Malaysia took part in the exercise. They included personnel from the Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency, Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia, Malaysia’s Ministry of Health and Malaysian Armed Forces, as well as Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force.

Singapore and Malaysia have been working together since 2023 to develop the frameworks, legal basis and operating procedures for responding to cross-border incidents once the RTS Link begins service. Last month, both countries also held a table-top exercise to test the effectiveness of the agreed operating procedures.

Sim said the progression from a table-top exercise to a field exercise had delivered three outcomes. In communication and coordination, operations centres on both sides maintained real-time contact throughout the incident response. In personnel deployment, officers and station staff on both sides of the border worked smoothly together. In command and control, the agencies demonstrated effective command capabilities.

Saifuddin said Malaysia had not treated the exercise as a routine task, but as a strategic investment in maintaining regional stability, strengthening investor confidence and promoting shared prosperity for both countries. “Its success tells Southeast Asia and the world that Malaysia and Singapore set the standard for protecting critical cross-border infrastructure.”

The National Security Council under Malaysia’s Prime Minister’s Department and Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs issued a joint statement on Wednesday, reaffirming that both countries would continue to strengthen emergency preparedness and overall resilience to ensure the safety and security of the RTS Link.

The statement said: “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.”