Vimala (right) and Jegen (second from right) dishing out food for devotees at Sri Maha Siva Muniswarar Temple in Tampoi, Johor Baru. — Photos: THOMAS YONG/The Star
Visitors to Johor have provided feedback about the government’s initiative to ease congestion at the two land checkpoints with Singapore.
A traveller who only wanted to be known as Sri praised the Malaysian government for taking steps to address congestion issues at both checkpoints.
“I came in via public transport with my friends and everything was smooth.
“We are happy that more e-gates are being added at the Johor Baru checkpoint,” he said at a Thaipusam event in Tampoi, Johor Baru.
He hoped the initiative, part of a quick response (QR) code immigration clearance system, would be expanded to those travelling by cars.
Devotees queuing up for food at lanes run by the two departments.
Malaysian V. Kogi praised a related move to increase the number of MyBorderPass motorcycle lanes from four to eight, equally divided for travellers entering and exiting.
The use of the MyBorderPass app, which supports QR code and facial recognition, is among the government’s ways of speeding up immigration clearance for bus passengers and motorcycle users.
“Facial recognition is a hassle-free way to clear immigration for my husband and I who commute daily to Singapore for work,” she said.
Kogi hopes that such facilities will be expanded to all motorcycle lanes at entry and exit points.
Meanwhile, Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) deputy immigration head Vimala Ramalinggam said the public has given the move the thumbs up.
“They expressed how it was easier to enter the country via public transport instead of driving in,” Vimala said when met at Sri Maha Siva Muniswarar Temple, where a thaneer panthal (refreshment stall) serving lane was manned by officers from Johor Immigration and Customs departments.
Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs Immigration and complex (BSI) deputy immigration head Vimala Ramalinggam together with her children to help serve food to devotees at a temple in Tampoi in Johor Baru.
The additional e-gates being installed at BSI are expected to be operational by Feb 19, according to Johor public works, transport, infrastructure and communications committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh.
He had said that the extra 26 gates would bring the total number of e-gates to 39 at the arrival hall (inbound) and 29 at the departure hall (outbound).
The e-gates can be used by people from 63 countries.
Vimala added that there were also queries as to when the MyBorderPass QR code would be expanded for use by travellers in cars and expansion plans for the present version of the MyBorderPass app.
As for the refreshment stall lane, Vimala said this was the Immigration Department’s fourth such event for Thaipusam.
She also pointed out that this was the first time that the department had collaborated with Customs for the celebration.
“There were more than 30,000 devotees who attended Thaipusam prayers at the temple this year,” she said.
Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ Complex (KSAB) customs assistant director (export branch) Jegen John Peter said devotees were pleasantly surprised when they saw personnel from both agencies working together to dish out food and serve drinks during Thaipusam.
“There were queries about our roles and functions, and we consider these interactions as part of building public awareness about our duties.
“This was also the first time that we had such a collaboration for Thaipusam that involved two different agencies from two ministries,” he said.
“Despite the long hours that stretched from 9am to 4pm, all those involved were in good spirits.
“We hope that this can become an annual event,” he said, adding that they had distributed some 8,000 Indian sweets.
