‘Shortcut’ proposal to be reviewed

PONTIAN: The move to open up a shortcut at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (BSI CIQ) in Johor Baru has got the support of Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

He said the issue of access at the checkpoint had already been brought up to the Home Ministry and he hopes there would be a decision soon.

“I have told the Ministry to consider reopening the ‘shortcut’ so people do not have to walk that far.

“I was made to understand that there are some safety concerns as there have been some accidents in the area. While the number of such incidents is small, we still need to consider safety issues,” he said.

A thorough study was needed to address safety concerns involving the proposed “shortcut,” he told the press after officiating at the state-level wave of the Jalur Gemilang programme at the Pontian Municipal Council on Thursday.

Onn Hafiz said this when asked to respond to The Star’s report regarding a shortcut near the BSI that has been closed since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Star had reported that hundreds of pedestrians, including pregnant women and senior citizens, have been asking for the shortcut to be reopened.

They said the shorter route, near the old Lion Hotel (now known as Hako Hotel) along Jalan Lingkaran Dalam, will save them time as they are now forced to walk 1.5km around the complex.

The reopening of the shortcut would also disperse traffic from the city centre, which is now heavily congested due to ongoing construction works for the Rapid Transit System (RTS).

Meanwhile, checks by The Star found that signs had been put up to deter pedestrians from using the shortcut.

Auxiliary and traffic policemen have also been posted to turn away those who try to use the shortcut via the bus lanes into the Immigration area.

The area has two functioning escalators and is only a few minutes’ walk from Immigration counters.

On a separate matter, Onn Hafiz said that some RM150mil had been allocated to expand and upgrade Hospital Pontian.

“An initial budget of RM500,000 has been allocated for early works involving the project this year.

“Construction is expected to kick off next year with a total budget of RM150mil,” he added.

Earlier in his speech, Onn Hafiz said Hospital Pontian will soon get two new blocks that can accommodate 150 beds.

During the tabling of Budget 2023, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that older hospitals such as the Kuala Kangsar, Jelebu and Pontian hospitals will be upgraded and refurbished.