Johor Immigration expecting 400,000 incoming travellers for CNY

JOHOR BARU: The Johor Immigration Department is expecting more than 400,000 travellers to enter Malaysia through the Causeway and Second Link during the Chinese New Year period.

Its director Baharuddin Tahir said the department has taken several steps to ease traffic congestion at both the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) and Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine checkpoints.

“We expect heavy traffic two days before Chinese New Year, which falls on Saturday (Feb 10).

“During the festival last year, we recorded a total of 348,693 people entering Malaysia through the Causeway and Second Link.

“This year, we expect the number to be higher as it also coincides with the school holidays,” he told a press conference here on Monday (Feb 5).

Baharuddin added that throughout January, more than five million travellers have entered Malaysia through the Causeway and Second Link.

He said in anticipation of the surge of travellers, the department would be in full force and only those who are celebrating Chinese New Year would be given time off.

“This is to make sure that all 284 Immigration counters at BSI and 169 counters at KSAB remain open during this period.

“We will also be activating contra-flow lanes for buses and cars to help the traffic flow,” he said, adding police would also be helping with traffic control.