Transport Minister Anthony Loke has slammed a media report suggesting the government will be seeking further extension to a deadline on a decision on the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS).

Taking to Facebook, Loke today said the report by The Star which quoted unnamed officials, was misleading.

“This is totally misleading and unethical journalism. You run the front-page news based on unverified and unnamed sources?

“The Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad is scheduled to make the announcement on RTS at 3pm today in JB (Johor Bahru),” he posted.

The media have been invited to cover the announcement by Dr Mahathir at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex in Johor Bahru today.

Loke later linked the report to MCA and the looming Tanjung Piai by-election, telling Malaysiakini, “It's clear that MCA is using their own media to discredit the government based on false assumptions and is using the issue for the Tanjung Piai by-election."

MCA owns the largest stake in The Star. The Tanjung Piai by-election is set for Nov 16 while nomination day is on Saturday.

In the report, The Star said Putrajaya was seeking yet another six-month extension to review the RM4bil project due to unresolved issues on the Malaysian side.

However, if true, this would be the third time the Malaysian government had sought an extension, after the initial six-month deferment to the end of September and second extension granted to today.

The 4km RTS link is intended to connect Woodlands North Station on Singapore's Thomson-East Coast MRT Line to Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru. 

Operations were initially targeted to begin by the end of 2024.

Mahathir had on Oct 17 stated that Malaysia intended to proceed with the RTS but that the process “will take some time”.

The project was initially deferred in May as the new Malaysian government wished to study it as part of its cost-cutting exercise. The extension cost Putrajaya RM2 million in abortive costs.

Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar had also offered use of his Bukit Chagar land parcel in Johor Bahru for the project for free following reports project costs had increased due to compensation for the land.

The ruler claimed he was not informed the land had been part of the proposed project.

Malaysiakini has reached out to the author of the report for a response.