Moving faster: Motorcyclists using the additional lanes offering QR code and facial recognition at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (BSI) in Johor Baru.
JOHOR BARU: Tens of thousands of motorcyclists can now clear immigration faster with the additional lanes offering QR code and facial recognition at both land checkpoints entering Singapore.
Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (BSI) in Johor Baru and Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ Complex (KSAB) in the Second Link have 16 lanes each, comprising eight inbound and eight outbound ones. They began operations on Saturday.
Apart from motorcyclists, commuters, including travellers from 63 countries, would also be able to use additional e-gates which have been installed at BSI beginning Feb 19.
Many motorcyclists gave the thumbs up for the new expansion of the MyBorderPass QR code but hoped the lanes would be increased to cover all motorcycle lanes at both the checkpoints.
They claimed there was still congestion occasionally during peak hours between 5am and 7am, and 5pm and 8pm.
Frequent traveller Rosli Dahlan, 50, said that Singapore has a total of 60 lanes on its Woodlands side for motorcycles.
“We call it kandang (enclosure). They have about three such places and each has about 20 counters.
“I hope Malaysia will ensure all our motorcycle counters are fully automated,” he said, adding that he has been working as a cleaner in Singapore for the past 20 years.
Another frequent traveller, Daniel Ooi, 59, said that the automation of the immigration clearance has now reduced wait time at the checkpoints.
“Nowadays, I can clear immigration and go across within 10 minutes even during peak hours. Those days, if the queues were long, it could take up to an hour.
“But there are still some minor issues such as facial recognition not being able to detect those who register with spectacles but ride without them.
“When this happens, often the motorcyclist at the back will alert the rider in front to put on his spectacles,” he said.
Ooi said that some motorcyclists were still unsure of the right distance for the AI camera to detect their faces or had to stop and stand for the camera to detect them.
He hoped that all motorcycle lanes at BSI and KSAB will be installed with this system.
Presently BSI has 100 motorcycle lanes (50 inbound and 50 outbound) while KSAB has 50 (25 inbound and 25 outbound).
Meanwhile, Johor works, transportation, infrastructure and communications committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said 26 new e-gates have been installed at BSI.
“They are presently undergoing testing and will be operational on Feb 19,” he said.
This will bring the total number of e-gates to 39 units inbound and 29 units for outbound traffic.
Presently, there are 22 inbound and 20 outbound e-gates.
