JOHOR BARU: Resolving congestion issues at both Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) and Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQs) is a top priority of the state government, says a Johor exco member.
State works, transportation, infrastructure and communication committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh defended Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi’s frequent visits to the two land checkpoints.
“I am always with Onn Hafiz in his series of visits to BSI and KSAB. “I know that his intention is to resolve issues not only affecting civil servants on duty at the two CIQs but also the people that have been using them for a long time.
“Issues at the two CIQs involve hundreds of thousands of Malaysians, especially Johoreans who go back and forth every day, and it must be the government’s priority to resolve them,” he said here on Saturday.
The Bukit Pasir assemblyman added the Mentri Besar wants civil servants on duty at the two CIQs to show high commitment, as Onn Hafiz also fights for their welfare and comfort.
“Mention any issue that involves the welfare and comfort of these civil servants, and Onn Hafiz will fight for it until it becomes the attention of the relevant ministers and the Prime Minister.
“From lack of personnel to their comfort and welfare, including their parking lots and overtime allowance arrears, Onn Hafiz prioritises (all),” he said.
He said that the recent remarks made by the Immigration Services Union of Peninsular Malaysia (KPISM) and the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) against Onn Hafiz were detrimental to the process of improving public service quality.
“When Cuepacs wants to demand a salary increase or bonus, they can also make a statement publicly, but when Onn Hafiz demands the best service, the response is different.
“I am confident that such statements from KPISM and Cuepacs will not in the least affect the determination and commitment of Onn Hafiz and the state government to continue to fight for the issue of congestion at BSI and KSAB,” he added.
Onn Hafiz expressed his disappointment last Sunday in a Facebook post when 13 counters on the Malaysian side of the Causeway remained closed to the public, causing congestion the day before.
On Wednesday, KPISM president Ajeet Singh Gurbax Singh praised the efforts of Onn Hafiz, who often makes field visits to the BSI here and the KSAB in Iskandar Puteri.
However, he said, Onn Hafiz also needs to focus on people’s issues, especially those involving the B40 group.
Meanwhile, Cuepacs secretary general Abdul Rahman Mohd Nordin urged that any moves to reprimand to civil servants be issued cautiously and not overly publicised on social media.
