KLUANG: Pulai and Simpang Jeram voters working in Singapore have been advised to take the bus to cross the border on polling day on Saturday (Sept 9) as a way to reduce congestion.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said his ministry has received applications from bus companies for Temporary Vehicle Licences to increase the number of trips.
"We have approved the applications through the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) so that bus companies could increase the number of trips during the by-elections.
"To avoid congestion, we advise voters returning from Singapore to use public transport provided by the bus companies.
"The number of buses depends on the demand they (bus companies) receive and they could have more than 10 buses if there is a demand for more trips," he told reporters here on Thursday (Sept 7).
He was speaking after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) by the Kluang Municipal Council, Railway Assets Corporation, SIPP-YTL JV and Think City for the construction of the Kluang Heritage Railway Liner Park.
He had been asked about measures to reduce the congestion during the two by-elections, which coincide with school holidays in Singapore.
Meanwhile, Johor works, transportation and infrastructure committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said the state government has come out with a time advisory for voters to avoid congestion.
"We have also asked the Immigration Department to ensure all counters are open throughout the election period," he said.
On Tuesday (Sept 5), Mohamad Fazli said there would not be any special lanes at either the Causeway or Second Link on polling day.
“This is because we do not want those who are not voters to take advantage of (any) special lane at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (KSAB) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ).
“However, we will make sure that all counters at both BSI and KSAB are operational before and during polling day,” he told The Star.
