Johor Bahru CIQ: MB request suspension of upgrades

Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi has intervened, requesting a suspension of upgrading works at the Johor Bahru CIQ.

Prior to the the request, the Johor Bahru CIQ Immigration announced phased closures of some counters at the Sultan Iskandar Building immigration checkpoint’s bus zone.

This decision comes amidst the ongoing school holidays, impacting travel volume, especially with Singapore being the highest contributor to tourist arrivals in Malaysia.

Closure to impact travellers

On Dec 14, Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi communicated his request via a Facebook post, attaching a Straits Times report on the matter.

He stated, “I have requested that these works be deferred until the end of the school holidays.” The upgrading works, initially scheduled from Dec 15, 2023, until Jan 15, 2024, involve renovations to manual counters and e-gates, impacting travellers during the heightened holiday season.

The e-gate system at both the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) and the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) in Gelang Patah handles the daily travel of approximately 50,000 Singaporean residents commuting to and from Johor for social purposes.

Additionally, the Immigration Department announced the temporary suspension of applications for the M-Bike automatic border control system facility.

This facility, catering to over 60,000 Malaysian motorcyclists and their pillion riders who daily commute to Singapore for work, will remain suspended until further notice.

Johor Bahru CIQ upgrades

The Johor Bahru CIQ Immigration had previously announced the closure plan on Dec 12, advising travellers to consider the closures when planning trips during this period. Closure phases for departure hall counters include:

• Phase 1 (Starting Dec 15): E-gate counters 1 to 3, manual counters 1 to 4, and the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) counter.
• Phase 2 (Starting Dec 21): E-gate counters 1 to 6, and manual counters 11 to 18.
• Phase 3 (Starting Dec 28): Manual counters 3 to 12.

A subsequent renovation plan for arrival hall counters is set for Dec 28, Jan 3, and Jan 9, also occurring in three phases.

The closure plan aligns with the ongoing school holidays, a period of increased travel volume. Singapore, as the leading contributor to tourist arrivals in Malaysia, registers over 4.5 million arrivals up to July 2023.

Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi’s decision to defer the upgrading works acknowledges the potential disruption to travellers during this crucial period. Travellers are urged to plan accordingly, ensuring valid travel documents and staying updated on the phased closures at the JB Checkpoint.