JOHOR BARU: The number of travellers going through the two Johor Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complexes is set to be more than double soon – from 71 million last year to 157 million by 2025.
With the huge increase at the two complexes – the Causeway and Second Link – quick action is needed to address the traffic congestion issues there.
To that end, the government has agreed to implement more than RM168.7mil worth of projects at both CIQs, said Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
About 71 million crossings were recorded at the two CIQs in 2022 following the country’s reopening of borders on April 1 last year.
“This year, 98 million people have already passed through both CIQs as of September,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
This number is expected to hit 136 million by the end of the year – similar to pre-pandemic figures – and rise to 157 million by 2025, he said after virtually chairing a task force meeting to address the traffic congestion issues at both checkpoints yesterday.
The meeting, held at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) CIQ complex, was also attended by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi and Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
“Four new initiatives will be introduced to address the congestion, including adding 44 MBike lanes at BSI and 33 such lanes at the Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (KSAB) CIQ, at a cost of about RM61.7mil.
“These lanes with automatic barriers will help cope with the growing number of motorcyclists, especially during the holidays.
“We also agreed to merge the immigration clearance halls at KSAB as well as upgrade and build new facilities at a cost of RM106.9mil,” Fadillah said, adding that the projects were agreed upon in the first task force meeting in March.
The Deputy Prime Minister said another solution was to build a covered walkway along the Causeway.
The fourth initiative, he said, was to provide an entry-point incentive for immigration staff (of various grades) who are on duty at BSI, KSAB, KLIA1 and KLIA2.
This would have a financial implication of RM7.93mil per year.
“This is to safeguard the welfare of the staff,” he said.
“Discussions will also be held with the Public Service Department to expand the initiative to those on duty in Sabah and Sarawak,” he added.
He said of the 21 existing initiatives that had been previously outlined to tackle traffic congestion, 15 had been completed as of Oct 10.
Before the task force meeting, the ministers and government agency officers visited the pedestrian and vehicle immigration clearance areas.
The MBike system was introduced in 2016 to help reduce the gridlock by up to 50%.
It is similar to autogates at all entry and exit points in Malaysia.
The system uses a radio frequency identification device (RFID) sticker attached to the holder’s passport, requiring the person to place their thumb on the reader before the gantry gate opens.
