Amid media reports that there might be a third link between Malaysia's southern state of Johor and Singapore being in the works, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said there is indeed "some" plan.
Without providing additional details, Mahathir said, "There is some plan in the offing … there is already some plan."
Currently, Singapore is linked to Johor via the very busy Woodlands Causeway in the north and the Second Link Bridge at Tuas in the west.
The main aim of the new link was to help ease traffic congestion on the two existing bridges linking the two countries, said Johor's Chief Minister Osman Sapian. "Yesterday, I had a discussion with interested parties about the possibility of a third link from east Johor. We observed that the area was close to Pulau Ubin – they were only about 3km apart," Osman said.
According to media reports, he also added that the new link would likely have a different customs and immigration system from the one used at the Causeway and Second Link.
"We may use a new system. It could be that Singapore and Malaysia's immigration checks will be conducted just once either in Pengerang or in Pulau Ubin," said the minister.
However, a spokesperson from Singapore's Ministry of Transport noted that the ministry has not received "any official proposal or communications from Malaysia regarding a third link between Singapore and Malaysia".