JOHOR BARU: The Immigration Department here will open all its counters on polling day to facilitate smooth traffic between Malaysia and Singapore.
On May 9, the department will go out in full force to enable all working Malaysians in Singapore to return home to cast their votes on that day.
Deputy Home minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the department will be mobilising a total of 350 officers to work during the general election.
“The 350 officers will be deployed to both the Sultan Iskandar Customs Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) and Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ complex in Tuas to facilitate immigration process at all land checkpoint counters for a three day period which will begin on May 8,” he said today.
The three-day exercise is to help voters plan their trip early without causing much traffic congestion on polling day.
Jazlan said the initiative is taken to facilitate voters who are returning to cast their votes and to ensure that the Immigration Department is ready at maximum operational strength.
“We do expect congestion as it is something that we are still working on especially during special occasions and festivities as traffic volumes might increase during this period,” he said.
Jazlan said traffic congestion along both CIQs entry point is a normal situation and does not happen on polling day only.
“I must stress here that the traffic congestions at both CIQs are not due to our Immigration workforce not carrying out their duty but due to the fact that vehicle volume entering Johor is extremely high,” he said.
“Lets put it this way, if all counters are open, would it help to ease congestion?
Sure it might speed up the process but it would definitely not resolve the congestion that may extend to the highway later,” he said.
Jazlan reminded Malaysians who are returning to vote to plan their trip carefully to avoid from getting caught in the traffic snarl that may occur before and after the polling day.
“The congestion may not necessarily originate from our side of the border but it might also start in Singapore.
Those who insist on returning to vote may take your leave and plan your trip carefully and avoid from travelling during peak hours as one may get stranded for hours on the road due to the increase in traffic volume during the polling week,” he said.