Three applications – MyTrip, MyRentas, and MyBorderPass – are undergoing proof-of-concept trials at the two complexes to evaluate their effectiveness in reducing congestion at the Malaysia-Singapore border.

“The home ministry has (selected) one of the three vendors being tried out. We submitted our recommendation to the finance ministry last week for its approval,” home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told Bernama at a gathering with the Malaysian diaspora here last night.

Saifuddin said an announcement on the chosen application will be made soon, adding that the trials showed the app effectively reduced wait times.

While immigration procedures can be completed through the app, travellers will still need to carry their passports for verification.

The application will first be limited to travellers on buses and motorcycles at BSI and KSAB, before being expanded to travellers across all 141 entry points in Malaysia.

Bus and motorcycle travellers make up nearly 80% of daily cross-border traffic between Johor and Singapore, while private and commercial vehicles account for the remainder.

“This application will contribute to overcoming issues related to the development of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), facilitating the movement of people and goods,” Saifuddin said.

He also said discussions are ongoing with Singapore regarding Malaysia’s proposal for a single-entry immigration checkpoint for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, which is currently under construction.

“The RTS will carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour, so it needs to be seamless. This will be the focus of discussions at my upcoming meeting with Singapore’s home affairs and law minister, K Shanmugam, on Thursday,” he said.

The RTS Link is a 4km passenger rail network with two stations – Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru and Woodlands North in Singapore.

Saifuddin also said his ministry is open to considering a special pass for Singaporeans with residences in Johor, particularly with the development of the JS-SEZ.