We may not be getting the High Speed Rail anytime soon, but at least the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is still alive.

None other than Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad gave the positive prognosis for the project during a press conference on Oct. 17.

According to Malaysiakini, Mahathir gave a brief "We will proceed with the RTS but we will take some time," when quizzed by reporters.

Back in May, we heard that the RTS was officially suspended until "end-Sept. 2019" at Malaysia's request.

Malaysia would also pay Singapore over S$600,000 in abortive costs.

In Sep. 2019, Malaysia requested an extension of the deadline to Oct. 31, which Singapore granted, according to The Star Online.

The RTS is meant to link Singapore's Woodland North station to Malaysia's Bukit Chagar Station in Johor.

May have to buy land from the Sultan

However, things took an unexpected twist when the Malaysian federal government discovered that a plot of land in Bukit Chagar, which they believed they owned, actually belonged to the Sultan of Johor.

The piece of land in question would cost the government RM495 million (S$161.4 million) in compensation, according to Malaysiakini.

Other sources "in Putrajaya" said that the government might have to buy another underwater plot of land in the Johor Straits from the Sultan, worth about RM198 million (S$64.5 million).

In other words, the cost of acquiring the land for the government could total S$225.9 million.

Issue resolved? Mahathir's not saying.

When asked if this meant that the issue had been resolved, Mahathir said "This is something that will be announced later".

Free Malaysia Today previously reported that the Sultan had offered to give up the land to the government free of charge -- on one condition.

He wanted the RTS project to resume as soon as possible as he "understands the difficulty" faced by people traveling back and forth between Johor and Singapore.

Top image from Mahathir's Facebook and LTA.