Behave and be on your way: Motorcyclists waiting in line to clear immigration at the CIQ complex in Johor Baru. More CCTV cameras have been installed at the complex to detect vandalism by errant motorcyclists.
JOHOR BARU: The authorities have started clamping down on errant motorcyclists who flout the law or damage equipment at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex, with at least four locals arrested this year.
It is learnt that the latest arrest involved a cook who was nabbed several days ago after he entered the country without scanning his passport.
A Home Ministry official said the man, in his 30s, had allegedly removed the barrier at a closed immigration booth and entered the country during peak hour.
“We have also detected several others who have committed similar offences,” the official said, adding that more arrests were expected soon.
The official said not stopping and presenting passports to Immigration officers at checkpoints was a serious offence under the Immigration Act, which can result in a fine or jail.
He said this as a reminder to the thousands of motorcyclists using the two land checkpoints to clear immigration properly when entering or exiting the country.
He added that several months ago, at least three other motorcyclists were nabbed for damaging the M-Bike automated clearance system, including plastering chewing gum onto thumbprint area when scanning their passports or hitting and damaging the LCD screen.
“We have installed more close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to detect vandalism and will continue to take strict enforcement against those who flout the law,” he said, adding that in all the cases, police reports had been lodged.
In the past, the Immigration Department has arrested and charged Malaysians and Singaporeans during special operations for travelling to Singapore without showing their passports at the two land checkpoints with the island-republic.
Most of the offences were committed during peak hours in the morning and late evenings.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has advised travellers to expect heavy traffic at the Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints during the upcoming year-end school holidays in the island republic, which start in mid-November.
The ICA has advised travellers to factor in additional waiting time from Nov 15 to Jan 1, 2025, especially on weekends.
It said during the recent September school holidays (Aug 30 to Sept 8), more than five million travellers crossed the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints, which connect Singapore to Malaysia.
“Traveller volume peaked on Sept 6, with a record number of over 543,000 crossings in a single day. Car travellers departing during peak periods had to wait up to three hours for immigration clearance,” ICA said in a statement on Monday.
The agency also urged travellers to cooperate with ICA officers, observe traffic rules, and maintain lane discipline.
It warned that it would not hesitate to take stern action against travellers who fail to comply with officers’ instructions or commit offences at the checkpoints.
To ensure a smoother journey, travellers by car or motorcycle are encouraged to use QR codes in lieu of passports and to refrain from queue-cutting, as it can cause severe congestion and compromise the safety of other motorists.
