EASING CONGESTION ON CAUSEWAY
Measures planned include increasing motorcycle lane counters
CONSTRUCTING covered walkways for pedestrians to the Causeway and increasing motorcycle lane counters at the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB), which houses a Customs, Immigration and Quarantine checkpoint, will be among the steps taken by the country to reduce congestion on the Causeway and the Second Link with Singapore.
The Home Ministry said these were among the measures being looked at in easing the daily commute of Malaysians to the island republic.
It said other measures included the Transport Ministry undertaking a study to move the Vehicle Entry Permit system to another location.
Other steps included the acquisition of Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI), which also houses a Customs, Immigration and Quarantine checkpoint, and KSAB, as well as transferring existing job positions and allocations of funds, from the Prime Minister’s Department to the Home Ministry.
The Home Ministry said this in a statement yesterday after its minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, chaired the first Coordination Committee Meeting to Address Congestion at the Causeway.
Present were Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar and senior officials from federal and state departments.
The statement said the other measures being taken included the creation of new positions at KSAB, which requires discussions with the stakeholders, increasing the allocation to RM5 million for the implementation of feasibility studies for future planning, introducing new provisions for the implementation of online applications for communication plans and holding further discussions on the enhancement of positions at the Customs Department with the Public Service Department.
On the covered walkway, the ministry said its construction was estimated to cost RM30 million, which will be shared between the federal and Johor governments, as well as highway concessionaire PLUS Sdn Bhd. The walkway will link BSI with the Causeway.
The statement said RM18.22 million was set aside for the construction of 33 motorcycle lane counters at KSAB.
It added that of the 23 initiatives that were agreed at the meeting yesterday, nine were short-term measures and two medium-term measures, which had already been implemented.
These included the appointment of Johor Immigration Department director as BSI and KSAB chief coordinator since Aug 1.
This was to coordinate the various aspects of command and control, as well as to address congestion issues at the entry points at BSI and KSAB.
The statement said the committee was informed of the implementation status of BSI’s and KSAB’s improvement works, including the upgrading of facilities, as well as replacement of Immigration and Customs assets and systems amounting to RM82.6 million, which is expected to be completed by next year.
“The Home Minister views the implementation status of each initiative seriously and urges all quarters and related parties to cooperate to ensure each action is implemented within the specified timeframe.
“He (Muhyiddin) called on ministers, senior management officials and enforcement officers to ensure the initiatives are carried out without any delay.”
The meeting was a follow-up to the Special Committee on the Causeway meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Aug 21.
It was established to formulate and implement initiatives to reduce the traffic congestion at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex, BSI and KSAB entry points in Johor.
The government had, in the 2020 Budget, allocated RM85 million to resolve the issues related to traffic on the Causeway.
The New Straits Times has, since early this year, highlighted the congestion motorcyclists have to endure at the Johor-Singapore border to get to work.
Most of them set out as early as 4.30am and endure between one and 1½ hours of congestion to get through the Immigration and Customs checkpoints.