Commuters into SG want smoother access
JOHOR BARU: Hundreds of pedestrians, including pregnant women and senior citizens, are asking for a “shortcut” to be reopened at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (BSI) to clear immigration to enter Singapore.
They say that the shorter route, near the old Lion Hotel (now known as Hako Hotel) along Jalan Lingkaran Dalam, will save them time as they are now forced to walk 1.5km around the complex.
The reopening of the “shortcut” will also disperse traffic from the city centre, which is now heavily congested due to ongoing construction works for the Rapid Transit System (RTS).
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Cashier Siti Nabila, 32, who is three months pregnant, said she has to trudge for almost 40 minutes to get her passport stamped before entering Singapore via bus at least five times a week.
“This is a huge circle into the complex. I really hope the authorities can look into opening up the access near the bus lanes to pedestrians.
An auxiliary policeman stopping the writer from entering via the bus lane at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Complex (BSI) in Johor Baru. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
“I don’t understand the rationale behind keeping this access closed as I used this route before the Covid-19 pandemic and it took only five minutes to walk from Lion City Hotel to the immigration counters,” she said, adding that she had pity for the many old people who have to walk under the hot sun to get through.
Another pedestrian known as Tan, 52, who has been working in Singapore for the past 20 years, said major roads into the city –such as Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Jim Quee – are badly congested due to the RTS project.
“I used to enter using the bus lane, but there are now auxiliary policemen after the pandemic preventing people from using this route. This is a more convenient way than going around the complex,” he said.
Another pedestrian, B. Purushothaman, 26, who has been working in the island state for three years, said it takes him about half an hour to walk around the complex.
The writer (wearing a hat) and Herman Raj walking around the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Complex (BSI) in Johor Baru as a short cut access has been closed to the public since the Covid-19 pandemic near Jalan Lingkaran Dalam. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
“After they reopened the border last year with Singapore, the authorities told us not to use this access, citing security reasons.
“If they are worried that people will simply enter the CIQ building, then allow only those with valid passports to use this access,” he said.
He hopes that Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who has made dozens of visits to BSI, would look into the people’s problems and consider reopening this access into the complex.
Another regular commuter, Heman Raj, 20, said there is adequate security around the area, with traffic and auxiliary policemen stationed around the clock.
“If I walk around the complex or walk straight via the shortcut, I will still be scanning my passport at the same place and waiting for the bus at the same spot.”
Meanwhile, checks by The Star showed that signs have been put up to deter pedestrians from using the access.
Auxiliary and traffic policemen have also been posted in the area to turn away those who try to use the “shortcut” via the bus lanes into the immigration area.
The area even has two functioning escalators and is only a few minutes’ walk to the immigration counters.
A CIQ official when contacted said that previously pedestrians were allowed access through the walkway to enter the building for many years, until after the pandemic when the Home Ministry suddenly stopped it.
“Opening up this access will help ease congestion in the city centre, especially during peak hours in the morning and night, as people can be picked up and dropped off around this area instead of getting caught in the traffic jams.”
The official added that the Johor Baru City Council could also set up a covered drop-off and pick-up point while the police manage the traffic in the area.
