January 22, 2026
World
World
TOKYO, Jan 22 — Japan has halted the restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant just hours after it began, though the reactor remains “stable,” the operator said.
JOHOR BARU, Aug 11 — Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi’s proposal for a second Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link connecting Tuas and Iskandar Puteri has received positive feedback from commuters in southwest Johor.
At the Gelang Patah bus terminal last Tuesday, CNA observed more than 100 people queuing by 5am. The first Causeway Link bus to Singapore quickly reached capacity, leaving many passengers to wait for the next service.
“During morning rush hour, this is normal,” said commuter Kevin Foh. “Sometimes we have to wait for two or three buses before we can board, if we’re lucky.”
Foh, a Gelang Patah resident in his mid-30s who works in Singapore’s retail sector, said the RTS2 would significantly shorten his commute. “I could just take a taxi from my house to the proposed RTS station in Iskandar Puteri and then take the train into Singapore. It would be much quicker — hopefully less waiting and less queueing.”
Onn Hafiz announced the proposal on July 31 after meeting Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, noting it aligned with a decree by Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim. He did not disclose the proposed station locations.
The first Johor-Singapore RTS Link, which will connect Bukit Chagar in Johor Baru to Woodlands North, is slated to open in December 2026, with rail installation works 56 per cent complete as of June. Bukit Chagar is roughly 25km from Gelang Patah, a trip that can take up to two hours by bus during peak hours.
Analysts told CNA that the RTS2 could enhance travel for western Johor commuters and spur development in Iskandar Puteri, part of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. However, they noted that last-mile connectivity in Tuas and Iskandar Puteri is still limited, and questioned if passenger demand would justify the project’s cost.
