In forceUpdated to 30 Sep 2026

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Cross-Border Railways (Border Control Co-location) Act 2026 · Updated to 30 Sep 2026 · Part 3 · Border Clearance and Railway Security Checks by Malaysia in Singapore

13. Extent of Malaysian border clearance and railway security checks

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(1)

A Malaysian preclearance officer recognised in relation to a cross‑border railway may, within a Malaysia designated area of the cross‑border railway which is within an authorised point of departure for the cross‑border railway, conduct border clearance and railway security checks of people and goods travelling by any cross‑border train bound for peninsular Malaysia using that cross‑border railway —

(a)

to the extent that is conferred by or under a Malaysian border control law on the Malaysian preclearance officer; and

(b)

subject to the limits mentioned in sections 14 to 18, the relevant Schedule relating to that cross‑border railway, and section 44.

(2)

In addition, before the opening of a cross‑border railway, a Malaysian preclearance officer recognised in relation to the cross‑border railway may perform any preparatory work —

(a)

within a Malaysia designated area of the cross‑border railway which is within an authorised point of departure for that cross‑border railway; and

(b)

subject to the limits mentioned in sections 14 to 18, the relevant Schedule relating to that cross‑border railway, and section 44.

(3)

Every Malaysian preclearance officer conducting border clearance or railway security checks or performing preparatory work in a Malaysia designated area remains under the orders of his or her own commanding officers.

(4)

To be clear, if any cross‑border train used on a cross‑border railway is stationed in Singapore in preparation for departure for peninsular Malaysia with any passenger or goods onboard such that all or any part of the train is outside of the Malaysia designated area of that cross‑border railway, a Malaysian preclearance officer may not exercise any of his or her CIQ powers in relation to an individual onboard that train even if the individual is pursued there.

Terms defined in s 3

authorised point of departure
Defined · s 3
“authorised point of entry” or “authorised point of departure” means a place in Singapore that is declared as such under section 5 of the Immigration Act 1959;
Open s 3
border clearance
Defined · s 3
“border clearance” includes to exercise CIQ powers concerning the admission into Malaysia from Singapore or vice versa of people and goods travelling by cross‑border train on a cross‑border railway bound for peninsular Malaysia from Singapore or bound for Singapore from peninsular Malaysia, as the case may be;
Open s 3
conduct
Defined · s 3
“conduct”, as a verb, means —(a)to do an act or omit to do an act —(i)on a single occasion; or(ii)on a number of occasions over a period of time; or(b)to both do an act and omit to do an act —(i)on a single occasion; or(ii)on a number of occasions over a period of time;
Open s 3
cross‑border railway
Defined · s 3
“cross‑border railway” means a railway that —(a)has a railway network with a terminus in Singapore and runs to any part of peninsular Malaysia; and(b)is constructed under the Cross‑Border Railways Act 2018;
Open s 3
cross‑border train
Defined · s 3
“cross‑border train” means a train used for or in connection with providing a cross‑border train service;
Open s 3
goods
Defined · s 3
“goods” means movable property of any kind and, without limiting the generality of the expression, includes any creature, plant, money, thing, document, vessel and aircraft;
Open s 3
Malaysia designated area
Defined · s 3
“Malaysia designated area”, for a cross‑border railway, means an area in Singapore designated in a map by the Malaysian Government and the Singapore Government under the treaty relating to that cross‑border railway to be the designated area for Malaysia in respect of that cross‑border railway;
Open s 3
Malaysian border control law
Defined · s 3
“Malaysian border control law”, for a cross‑border railway, means any Malaysian law specified in the relevant Schedule relating to that cross‑border railway, being a law connected with immigration, customs, health, veterinary and phytosanitary controls, consumer protection or transport;
Open s 3
Malaysian preclearance officer
Defined · s 3
“Malaysian preclearance officer” means a Malaysian border protection service officer who —(a)is recognised under section 9 as a Malaysian preclearance officer in respect of a cross‑border railway specified in the recognition; or(b)is deemed by section 10 recognised as a Malaysian preclearance officer in respect of a cross‑border railway,but only while on duty or carrying out work in that capacity;
Open s 3
opening of a cross‑border railway
Defined · s 3
“opening of a cross‑border railway” has the meaning given by section 45(3) of the Cross‑Border Railways Act 2018;
Open s 3
passenger
Defined · s 3
“passenger”, for a cross‑border train, means an individual embarking or intending to embark on the cross‑border train for the purpose of travelling onboard and includes any of the following:(a)a Malaysian border protection service officer or a Singapore border protection service officer;(b)an independent safety auditor, a rail safety inspector or other like official making an investigation or inspection for the purposes of any written law or Malaysian law about ensuring the safety of the operations of the cross‑border railway while on duty or carrying out work in that capacity;
Open s 3
preparatory work
Defined · s 3
“preparatory work” means work that is preparatory to conducting border clearance or railway security checks;
Open s 3
railway security checks
Defined · s 3
“railway security checks” means carrying on any ordinary checking mentioned in section 5(1) or special checking mentioned in section 5(2) for the purpose of safeguarding against any railway security incident associated with a cross‑border railway;
Open s 3
relevant Schedule
Defined · s 3
“relevant Schedule”, for a cross‑border railway, means the Schedule to this Act which contains provisions relating to that cross‑border railway, including powers of specified persons and applicable laws;
Open s 3
train
Defined · s 3
“train” means a vehicle (with or without wheels) of a kind that operates on a railway and is used or capable of being used —(a)as a means of transport of passengers or cargo, or both passengers and cargo; or(b)for movement on the railway in order to maintain the railway; Examples Any train and rolling stock, coaches, wagons, maintenance or engineering vehicles or other railway equipment that is designed for movement along a line of railway. Any locomotive, engine, track car, tender, flanger and railway crane.
Open s 3