KUALA LUMPUR (April 7): RTS Operations Pte Ltd (RTSO), the operator of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link) project, has appointed Datuk Khairil Anwar Ahmad as its new chairman, replacing Datuk Mohd Farid Mohd Adnan.

The appointment is effective from March 1, according to a statement issued on Sunday by RTSO, a joint venture between Prasarana Malaysia Bhd (Prasarana) and Singapore rail operator SMRT Corporation Ltd.

Khairil was previously with Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB), a subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Bhd, which he joined in 2007. He served in various positions including as chief executive officer (CEO) of EduCity@Iskandar and as managing director and CEO of Medini Iskandar Malaysia, until he retired as IIB president and CEO in December 2022.

"During his tenure at IIB, he also served as a director on the boards of several companies, including joint ventures with EPF, Sunway Group, Mitsui & Co and Mubadala Group," said RTSO.

Khairil said he is fully committed to be working together with the RTSO board and management to deliver on the RTS Link project.

"I take cognisance of the scale and strategic importance of the project in bringing significant benefits for both Malaysia and Singapore, and in further cementing the deep-rooted and close relationship between the two countries," he said.

"RTSO has charted remarkable progress and we will endeavour to carry forward [Mohd Farid's] legacy, as we work towards bringing the RTS Link vision to fruition,” he added.

The RTS Link is a four-kilometre long commuter train network with stations at Bukit Chagar, Johor Bahru and Woodlands North, Singapore.