Johor MB says he made over 70 visits to two CIQs to address traffic congestion

ISKANDAR PUTERI: In a bid to address traffic congestion issues between Johor and Singapore, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi revealed that he has made over 70 visits to the two Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complexes at the Causeway and Second Link.

The Johor Mentri Besar told the state assembly here that he has visited the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) CIQ a total of 60 times and the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) CIQ 14 times.

“Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh (state works, transportation and infrastructure committee chairman) and I will continue going down to the ground until the issue has been resolved consistently.

“There are two reasons for us to choose to take such an approach. First, we know that some 300,000 Malaysians are using these two crossings almost daily to earn a living. Each commuting individual typically has a spouse and at least two children.

“This means that the issue indirectly affects 1.2 million Johoreans, which is 30% of the population of Johor. Every hour they spend facing the congestion is an hour wasted for them to be with their families,” he said during the state assembly sitting here.

He added that the second reason was to ensure that Johor’s economy will not suffer due to the congestion problem at the two land crossings.

“Every second wasted on the Causeway or Second Link is a second not spent on Johor’s economy. Many may even have phobia or are worried after the previous experience of facing congestion at the two land crossings.

“This is among the issues that are affecting Johor’s investments and its tourism industry. If we could solve this issue consistently, we will be able to boost investor’s confidence and encourage more tourists to visit us,”he said.

Onn Hafiz said this in responding to questions related to the two CIQs and border congestion from Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad (BN - Benut), Datuk Samsolbahari Jamali (BN - Semarang), Andrew Chen Kah Eng (PH-Stulang), Datuk Zulkurnain Kamisan (BN-Sri Medan), Datuk Najib Samuri (BN-Parit Yaani) and Liow Cai Tung (PH – Johor Jaya).