SMOOTH TRAFFIC ON CAUSEWAY
Roads are clear as Singaporeans start work, schools reopen
MOTORISTS heaved a sigh of relief when traffic heading to Singapore on the Causeway was clear yesterday. Their worries surfaced after they faced massive congestion on the Causeway two days ago at the start of the festive holidays.
Ashraf Kamal, 34, who ferries clients between here and Singapore, said the congestion was bad since Sunday as many people were entering the republic for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, and Singaporeans were returning home at the end of the school holidays.
“I drove into Singapore on Sunday and Monday, and it took me about two hours to cross the Causeway on both days.
“I noticed there were more vehicles than usual. Many of them were Malaysian drivers.
“Many of them were signing up or renewing their Autopass cards at the counters on the Singapore side, which caused traffic to build up,” said Ashraf from Stulang here.
“I began my journey about 9am on Sunday and arrived at Woodlands two hours later. On Monday, I drove into Singapore at 4pm and it took me more than two hours before I passed Immigration clearance at Woodlands.”
He said he visited relatives in Eunos, Singapore, for Aidilfitri after dropping off passengers in the republic on Sunday.
Another driver, Azman Abdullah, 30, said he had a hassle-free trip to Singapore yesterday as the roads were clear since it was a working day in Singapore and schools had reopened in the republic.
“My family entered Singapore yesterday to pay our last respects to my wife’s relative.
“We began our journey after 11am and traffic was smooth,” said Azman, a bank officer from Kuala Lumpur.
Many motorists heading for Singapore were caught in a massive jam at the Johor-Singapore Causeway on Sunday as republic authorities conducted thorough checks at the Woodlands checkpoint.
Razali Tompang, 39, who comanages the JB Tracer Facebook page providing traffic-related information for motorists commuting between Johor and Singapore, said it was a norm for Singaporean authorities to conduct checks on inbound vehicles.
“Singaporean authorities always conduct 100 per cent checks on vehicles and those who commute into Singapore know this.
“The only difference on Sunday and Monday was more vehicles entering Singapore for the festive holidays,” said Razali, an executive with a non-governmental organisation.
Johor Baru Selatan District Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department chief Deputy Superintendent Wan Zulfikri Wan Othman said the Singapore-bound traffic at the Causeway was smoother yesterday.
“The traffic snarl of the past two days is no longer seen and the movement of vehicles into Singapore is smooth,” he told the New Straits Times.