KUALA LUMPUR: Thousands of Malaysians took advantage of the Malaysia Day long weekend to cross into Thailand, triggering massive congestion at the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex in Kedah.
According to a Sinar Harian report, more than 17,000 people were recorded leaving Malaysia for Thailand on Saturday (Sept 13), with Malaysians making up the majority of travellers.
Bukit Kayu Hitam serves as the primary road gateway between Malaysia and southern Thailand, linking directly to Sadao in Songkhla province through the ICQS Complex.
Figures from the Border Control and Protection Agency revealed that 15,718 Malaysians were among the 17,030 travellers leaving the country between 6am and midnight, alongside visitors from Thailand, Indonesia, China, India and several other nations.
In contrast, only 4,941 people entered Malaysia during the same period, bringing the total cross-border movement to nearly 22,000 on that day.
The agency commander, Sr Asst Comm Mohd Nasaruddin M Nasir, said the unusually high traffic volumes were driven not only by the festive weekend but also by the ongoing school holidays, and are expected to continue until next Sunday (Sept 21).
“The congestion has spilt beyond our control, with traffic overflowing outside the ICQS. Additional officers have been deployed and the Quick Response Team activated to regulate vehicle flow,” he said in a statement on Sunday (Sept 14).
He advised travellers to plan their journeys carefully, remain patient and comply with enforcement instructions while at the border, which operates daily from 6 am to midnight.
Authorities are also working closely with the police, the General Operations Force, and other enforcement agencies to ensure safety and a smooth passage, while maintaining close cooperation with Thai authorities to manage the surge.
