In an interview with Singapore state-owned media, Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the efficiency level of immigration facilities on the Malaysian side of the Causeway must be raised to 100 per cent in order to alleviate congestion at the land border.
Onn Hafiz stressed that resolving manpower issues at the Causeway remains a key objective for the Johor state government in improving connectivity in the short term between Singapore and Malaysia.
“On the Johor side (of the Causeway), we have to make sure that our facilities are working at 100 per cent efficiency,” said Onn Hafiz.
“I was there this morning. I just felt that we are not there yet. We are only working at 80 per cent at the moment. So there are some issues that need to be resolved in terms of human resources and technical (matters),” he said on Apr 19.
He did not elaborate on what were the other parameters being monitored in terms of checkpoint efficiency.
The Machap state assemblyman added: “So it’s a work in progress. (The congestion problem) has been around for decades. But I believe with the short-term measures being taken now I think we should be able to operate at 100 per cent this year.”
During the interview, Onn Hafiz stressed that although the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is on track to be operational by end-2026, the state government will work together with Putrajaya to reduce traffic congestion at land checkpoints in the meantime.
Earlier this year, the Malaysian federal government announced initiatives to alleviate Causeway congestion such as permitting Singaporeans entering Johor via the two land checkpoints to use electronic gate (e-gate) facilities as well as adding 25 more motorcycle lanes at CIQ.
The Causeway is considered one of the busiest land checkpoints in the world which around 200,000 travellers commute across each day, many of whom are Malaysians who work in Singapore. During peak travel periods, some travellers have reported being stuck between 5 to 6 hours in congestion.
The chief minister also reiterated the state government’s willingness to launch ferry services between Puteri Harbour and Tuas to ease traffic congestion at the Second Link between Malaysia and Singapore.
