JOHOR BAHRU, May 8 — Malaysia and Singapore will implement jointly co-located customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ) operations once the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link begins service next year, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said today.

He said the arrangement will see Malaysian agencies and border security forces under the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency stationed at the Woodlands Customs Complex in Singapore.

“Related agencies from Singapore will also be housed at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar CIQ in Johor Bahru.

He said Malaysia and Singapore are coordinating procedures for the RTS Link’s shared CIQ facility to ensure smoother immigration checks, security operations and emergency response.

Saifuddin Nasution said both countries will also need dedicated domestic laws to support the co-located border control system once it is implemented.

“This is to enable Singapore agencies to operate in Malaysia and for our enforcement agencies to operate in the republic,” he said.

He said the proposed Malaysian border control law has already received approval and is awaiting gazettement, while Singapore is also expected to introduce a similar law for the arrangement to work.

He also said the Home Ministry has approved 794 positions for the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency, including 640 enforcement personnel, 47 customs officers and 107 police personnel.

He said 478 newly recruited officers will undergo training in Segamat from June 22 to September 27 before operational training at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar and Sultan Abu Bakar complexes ahead of deployment to the Bukit Chagar Station ICQS from October 1.