Johor Bahru CIQ enhances efficiency to ease congestion

In an effort to enhance clearance processes and alleviate traffic congestion at the Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) in Johor. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced the deployment of 100 fresh graduates to Johor Bahru CIQ at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI).

This initiative aims to address the significant volume of daily transboundary movements at BSI, one of the country’s busiest international entry points, by enhancing traffic flow and expediting the clearance process.

The implementation of a single clearance system and various infrastructure improvements are expected to streamline operations at the causeway immigration checkpoints.

Personnel placement and infrastructure enhancements

The Immigration Department will assign 100 new personnel, following the completion of their training on May 20, to the Johor Bahru CIQ.

This move comes as the complex currently experiences a shortage of personnel, with 1,074 personnel compared to the required 1,347. Additionally, the government has approved the creation of 700 new immigration posts, primarily allocated to BSI CIQ, Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ, and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), which all face staffing challenges.

To address peak-hour traffic congestion resulting from shift changes, the immigration department will introduce a new shift change formula at the two Johor CIQs. The objective is to ensure that all counters remain open during peak hours, facilitating smoother traffic dispersion, particularly for individuals entering Singapore.

Saifuddin said a dry run was conducted recently, and it proved to be effective in reducing congestion during peak hours.

Ongoing efforts at Johor Bahru CIQ

The state government of Johor also made significant progress in improving conditions and expediting clearance at the land checkpoints with Singapore.

Johor Chief Minister Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi highlighted the reduction in clearance time from an hour to approximately 30 minutes, especially during peak hours. While this improvement is commendable, the state government remains committed to collaborating with federal partners in Putrajaya to further enhance the situation.

Efforts to streamline processes and enhance traffic flow include the ongoing initiative to combine 38 counters at BSI, integrating immigration, road transport department, and Touch ‘n Go procedures.

This consolidation aims to reduce the time it takes for vehicles to enter the country. As of now, 19 counters have completed the exercise, with the full completion anticipated by the end of the year.

The construction of additional auto gates and the integration of passport checking and vehicle entry permit (VEP) counters into a single counter are among the measures implemented.

Starting in August, visitors will experience a streamlined process with just one stop instead of two at the land checkpoints. While these few seconds may appear insignificant, they contribute significantly to improving overall traffic flow and reducing delays.