JOHOR BARU: Resolving congestion issues at both Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) and Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQs) will always be a top priority, says a Johor exco member.
State works, transportation, infrastructure and communication committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh defended Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi’s frequent visits to the two land checkpoints.
“I am always with Onn Hafiz in his series of visits to BSI and KSAB and I know that his intention is to resolve issues not only affecting civil servants on duty at the two CIQs but also the people that have been using it for a long time.
“Issues at the two CIQs involve hundreds of thousands of Malaysians, especially Johoreans who go back and forth every day and it must be the government's priority to resolve it,” he said here on Saturday (March 30).
The Bukit Pasir assemblyman added the Mentri Besar wants civil servants on duty at the two CIQs to show high commitment as Onn Hafiz also fights for their welfare and comfort.
“Mention any issue that involves the welfare and comfort of these civil servants and Onn Hafiz will fight for it until it becomes the attention of the relevant ministers and the Prime Minister.
“From lack of personnel to their comfort and welfare including parking lots and overtime allowance arrears, (these) are always Onn Hafiz priorities,” he said.
He added that the recent remarks made by the Immigration Services Union of Peninsular Malaysia (KPISM) and the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) against Onn Hafiz gives the impression that the nature of not being reprimanded was still present.
Mohamad Fazli said that such a nature was not healthy in the process of improving the quality of public services.
“When Cuepacs wants to demand a salary increase or bonus, they can also make a statement publicly but when Onn Hafiz demands the best service, the response is different.
“I am confident that such statements from KPISM and Cuepacs will not in the least affect the determination and commitment of Onn Hafiz and the state government to continue to fight for the issue of congestion at BSI and KSAB,” he added.
On March 24, Onn Hafiz, in a Facebook post, expressed his disappointment when 13 counters on the Malaysian side of the Causeway were not opened to the public, causing congestion the day before.
On Wednesday, KPISM president Ajeet Singh Gurbax Singh praised the efforts of Onn Hafiz who often goes to the ground and visits the BSI here and KSAB in Iskandar Puteri.
He then added that Onn Hafiz also needs to focus on people's issues, especially involving the B40 group.
Meanwhile, Cuepacs secretary general Abdul Rahman Mohd Nordin urged that any reprimands to civil servants should be made prudently without being publicised on social media.
He added that this was to avoid situations that do not reflect the real picture on the ground.
