He said the GPS (satellite-based radio navigation global positioning system) approach is a requirement that both Malaysia and Singapore’s Civil Aviation authorities had agreed on before.
“The amount involved is a commercial decision for Firefly (to make).
“We are looking forward for Firefly to work closely on that in a timely manner. We expect it to be implemented in the next six to 12 months,” he said at a joint press conference with his Singaporean counterpart, Khaw Boon Wan, at Seletar Airport here today.
Loke is on a working visit to Seletar Airport for Firefly’s inaugural flight, FY3126, to Singapore, which was given a water cannon salute upon its arrival at 11am.
Khaw said the regulators of both countries will meet next week to discuss the new GPS approach.
“The regulators (of both countries) will be meeting next week and I’m confident that it can be done pretty soon,” he said.
The air disagreement first surfaced on Nov 23 last year when Firefly said it will suspend all flights to Singapore from Dec 1, 2018, the day it was supposed to move its operations from Changi Airport to Seletar Airport.
Malaysia objected to the new landing procedures for Seletar Airport, claiming that this move would impose height restrictions and affect development around Pasir Gudang.
However, on April 6, Malaysia and Singapore agreed that in the spirit of bilateral cooperation, Singapore will withdraw the ILS procedures for Seletar Airport.
Firefly announced on April 12 that it will resume its flights to Singapore from April 21 and the flights between the Subang and Seletar Airport would have a twice-daily schedule from April 22-28, followed thereafter by six daily flights.
Updating on a high-level committee set up to review the existing airspace arrangement in which Singapore air traffic controllers manage airspace over southern Johor, Khaw said: “They are in the process of talking.
“The first step is to settle the terms of reference. My advice to them is not to spend too much time arguing over the terms of reference … get the process going,” he said.
The committee is co-chaired by Malaysia’s transport ministry secretary-general and Singapore’s permanent secretary for transport.
“With the right good will, we can always find common ground and reach some win-win solutions. Of this, I’m very confident,” said Khaw.
The Malaysian government plans to retake control of the airspace over southern Johor.
JB-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link
On the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, Loke said Malaysia was committed to the project.
“We are working on the supplementary agreement for six months and looking at other options on how to reduce the cost.”
Malaysia had early this month requested a six-month extension until September from Singapore to make a decision on the RTS Link project.
A bilateral agreement on the RTS Link was signed in January 2018 during the previous Barisan Nasional administration.
The project was initially scheduled for construction this year and was expected to be completed by December 2024.
It was aimed at addressing congestion in the daily commute between the two countries.
The RTS Link project would cover 4km of rail linking Bukit Chagar, Johor Baru and Woodlands in Singapore. It will be able to ferry 10,000 passengers per hour.
Khaw said the bilateral agreement does not provide suspension, unlike the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail.
“However, in the spirit of bilateral relations, we can always work out some amendments,” he said, adding that “the immediate first step is to settle, finalise and sign the supplementary agreement which can be done soon”.