Working for smooth border connectivity

THE Johor Immigration Department has always maintained a good working relationship with its Singapore counterpart especially with regard to border issues, says its director Baharuddin Tahir.

He said there was a recent study tour involving officers from various Malaysian agencies such as Immigration, police, Customs and Road Transport Department to view the system being used by Singapore at their checkpoints in Woodlands, Tuas and Changi airport.

“It was a good study tour for my 10 officers who participated in the programme.”

He added that it was important to maintain good rapport with Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) especially as both countries handled the world’s busiest land crossings.

On the sharing of information, Baharuddin said it mainly involved traffic movement along the Johor Causeway and Second Link.

“We always keep in touch especially when there is an extraordinary jam at the border,” he said, adding that his recent visit to Singapore’s ICA was two weeks ago with regard to the changing of officers at checkpoints.

Baharuddin added that besides links in their official capacities, both countries were also involved in annual friendly matches.

“Actually it’s Johor’s turn to organise the match but it has been postponed since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We hope to organise it next year,” he said, adding that among the sports they took part in were football, volleyball, table tennis and badminton.

He added that during the recent Singapore National Day on Aug 9, Johor Immigration sent a cake to the ICA.

“They reciprocate during our National Day on Aug 31,” he added.

ICA also acknowledged that it worked with its Malaysian counterparts and had direct communication lines with them.

“For example if we observe a road traffic accident, vehicle breakdown or incidents of queue-cutting even beyond the International Boundary, we will alert our counterparts so they can deploy resources to the scene,” a spokesperson said in an email reply to StarMetro.

The official also said that both Singapore and Malaysian agencies conducted regular exchanges to discuss possible solutions to improve traffic at land checkpoints.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi (left) leading a delegation of Johor officials to Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.

“One positive outcome was the Malaysian Automated Clearance System 2.0 which allows Singaporeans to clear the two land crossings via automated lanes.”

The official stated that both countries also worked closely to enhance cross-border connectivity under the ambit of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia’s Immigration Work Group.

According to the official, traffic volume had currently reached about 90% pre-Covid levels, with about 400,000 travellers cleared daily via the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints.

The official added that ICA had continually leveraged technology and data such as biometrics, to provide a faster and more seamless clearance experience for travellers, without compromising security.

Initiatives implemented to ease congestion include equipping both checkpoints with a new command and control system, providing enhanced tactical, sense-making and decision support tools.

“Others include having more automated lanes at bus arrival halls and allowing automated clearance to passport holders from 51 jurisdictions including Malaysians, and automated clearance for all motorcyclists using biometric clearance.”

The official added that since May this year, they had started to provide an alternative route for motorcyclists entering Singapore during the weekday morning peak period at the Tuas checkpoint.

ICA had also installed additional car counters at the cargo clearance zones of Woodlands Checkpoint and 10 bi-directional immigration kiosks at the Woodlands Train Checkpoint this year, the official said.

Paperless clearance of cargo at cargo checkpoints was also introduced.

ICA also monitors traffic in real-time and proactively provides updates on the traffic situation at the land checkpoints to travellers via ICA’s Facebook page and local radio broadcasts.