On their wish list: Those who frequently use the CIQ complex in Johor Baru want more autogate lanes and toilets to make their trip across the Johor Causeway smoother and more comfortable. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR BARU: Commuters who frequently use the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex here want more autogate lanes and toilets to make their trip across the Johor Causeway smoother and comfortable.
Hang Hui Sek, who travels to and from Singapore daily by bus, said increasing the number of autogate lanes would ease congestion at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) CIQ complex.
Those travelling by bus are required to go through immigration clearance on foot before walking to the bus depot located within the CIQ complex.
“The CIQ currently offers travellers the option of using the autogate entry system or counters for manual passport checks. Both areas are usually packed with long lines due to the large number of daily travellers.
“I hope that the Budget 2024 allocation announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim could be used to add more autogate facilities at the CIQ as this could cut down staffing issues faced by the Immigration Department.
“The whole process will become more efficient as only a handful of department staff have to be stationed at the autogates to assist travellers who face issues with their passport clearance,” said Hang, who works as a van driver, when interviewed by The Star.
The 41-year-old man hoped to see the border checkpoint go fully-automated, much like what has been done in Singapore, which has allowed travellers to pass through the immigration clearance area within 15 minutes.
During the tabling of Budget 2024, Anwar said the government will set up a single border agency and allocate some RM20mil for maintenance and repair as well as acquire assets at all international borders of the country.
Another commuter, S. Meena, 29, said the autogate facilities for BSI was also on her wishlist for a more sophisticated and faster immigration clearance. Such facilities would complement the recent improvements that have been made to the CIQ complex following Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi’s frequent visits to address the traffic congestion there, said the factory worker.“Since his active involvement, there has been a significant improvement in the traffic congestion and travel time.
“Previously, it took me more than one hour to pass through immigration but now, it has been cut down by half. Hopefully, the travel time can be further reduced with additional autogates.
“Now that the CIQ has started testing contra-flow lanes during peak hours, it has further improved the traffic situation at the CIQ where buses can also pass through quicker,” she said, adding that she leaves Johor Baru at around 5am to start work at 8am in Singapore.
Meena also suggested for clearer signboards to guide vehicles along the contra-lanes once it becomes a permanent fixture after the dry-run period.
Self-employed Khairul Mohd Ali, who frequently drives into Singapore to visit his relatives, said more accessible toilets should be made available at the CIQ complex to provide convenience to children and the elderly.
“Currently, they have to walk a distance and use stairs to get to the toilet from the immigration clearance area for vehicles.
“Because of the inconvenience, I usually hold it in until after passing the Singapore immigration checkpoint across the border as their toilet is located on the ground floor of the building with parking spots provided.
“I hope our CIQ can also have accessible toilet facilities for travellers as young kids and the elderly might need to answer nature’s call more often,” he added.
