Immigration officers volunteering over two days at the Thaipusam event at the sri Maha siva Muniswarar Temple in Tampoi.
At least 35 Johor Immigration officers took part in a Thaipusam event in Tampoi where they also gathered feedback on the state’s border checkpoints.
The officers were mainly from Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (BSI) and Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ complex in the Second Link.
The officers also came from Kulai and Pasir Gudang.
The initiative was headed by BSI deputy Immigration head R. Vimala.
In addition, the personnel also volunteered at the Johor Immigration stall at Sri Maha Siva Muniswarar Temple in Tampoi.
“We received almost 250 comments and feedback from the public, mainly from Singapore.
“We decided to go digital and asked people to scan the QR Code to give their input,” said Vimala.
Among the top enquiries were about walk-in passport applications, she said.
Vimala (second from right) overseeing her children serving food to devotees during the event.
Respondents also expressed their wish to have more automated clearance lanes and information on how to report illegal immigrants, she added.
“They are also hoping for the Malaysian M-Bike automated clearance system for motorcyclists to be expanded so Singaporeans can use it too.
”We also received feedback from people who appreciated our initiative of opening contra lanes during peak times on Friday, Saturday and Sunday since last October,” she said.
Under this system, on Fridays and Saturdays, besides utilising the arrival hall for buses, 10 manual and six autogates are open at the exit hall of BSI to clear people arriving from Singapore.
Vimala said on Sundays, when the numbers were high for those exiting the country, Immigration used the arrival hall to clear passengers.
There are an additional 10 manual gates and six autogates at the arrival hall.
She said the department would take note of the public feedback and do its best to improve its services.
For the thaneer panthal stall, Vimala said this was the first time Immigration officers of all races have volunteered to help serve food to devotees.
“The first day on Jan 24, they served food for about seven hours and the next day for about nine hours,” she said.
Immigration officers were stationed along one of the six lines serving food at the temple.
“Many people were pleasantly surprised when they saw Immigration personnel of various races dishing out food.”
Vimala said this was their third Thaipusam event after having taken part in 2020 and 2022.
She credited Johor Immigration director Baharuddin Tahir for being supportive of initiatives to promote unity among their staff statewide.
Vimala said the 1,217 Immigration officers stationed at BSI were from all states.
“We usually do a celebration combining Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Chinese New Year and a joint Deepavali, Christmas, Hari Gawai and Pesta Kaamatan gathering,” she said, adding that last year Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi had also participated.
