KUALA LUMPUR: RTS Operations Pte Ltd (RTSO), the operator of the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link) project, has named Datuk Khairil Anwar Ahmad as its new chairman.
Khairil's appointment, replacing Datuk Mohd Farid Mohd Adnan, is effective from March 1.
Khairil has over 40 years of experience as a professional engineer registered with the Board of Engineers Malaysia.
Having served in various corporate companies, including construction, real estate development, banking, and engineering consultancy, he began his career with the National Electricity Board (LLN), now known as Tenaga Nasional Bhd, in 1985.
Before being appointed to the position of RTSO chairman, Khairil served at Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB), a subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Bhd, which he joined in 2007.
While serving there, he held several key positions including EduCity@Iskandar chief executive officer, and Medini Iskandar Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer, before retiring as the president and chief executive officer of the company.
During his tenure at IIB, Khairil also served as a director on the boards of several companies, including joint ventures with the Employees Provident Fund, Sunway Group, Mitsui & Co and Mubadala Group.
Commenting on his appointment, Khairil expressed his gratitude for the appointment and pledged his commitment to work closely with the RTSO Board of Directors and management team to ensure the success of the RTS project.
"I place great importance on the strategic significance of this project in delivering substantial benefits to both Malaysia and Singapore, as well as in further strengthening the close relationship between the two countries.
"We are committed to continuing Farid's legacy and working hard to ensure the RTS vision comes to fruition."
Meanwhile, RTSO vice chairman Yap Kim Wah said he believed that with Khairil's appointment, it would provide valuable expertise to the company's board of directors and technical advice in guiding the management team to successfully complete the crucial project for the nation.
The RTS Link project is a commuter rail network of approximately four kilometres with two stations, one at Bukit Chagar here and the other at Woodlands North, Singapore.
With a capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction and a journey time of about five minutes between the two stations, RTS Link will provide an easy and comfortable journey between Singapore and Johor Baru.