JOHOR BARU: The MBike counters' system glitch at both Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complexes at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) and the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB), enters its seventh day today (March 7).
Both the federal and state Immigration Department heads, and the newly-appointed MBike system contractors are scrambling for immediate resolutions, following the Johor menteri besar's pleas.
Yesterday (March 7), Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi urged and appealed to the department heads to resolve the hiccups immediately.
Immigration director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh paid a surprise visit to both CIQ complexes yesterday (March 6), and even the officers were caught off-guard.
Among the temporary measures taken to ensure motorcyclists will not be made to wait for hours, and to reduce congestion for immigration clearance, is to open all manual inspection counters at the motorcycle inspection zones at both CIQ complexes in BSI and KSAB.
State Immigration director Baharuddin Tahir said there are 50 motorcyclist inspection counters, including 11 MBike counters, at the motorcycle entry and exit lanes at the CIQ complex in BSI.
The 11 MBike counters are currently not in operation due to the system glitch since Feb 29.
He said all manual counters will be in operation 24-hours to ensure for faster and smoother clearance.
While at the CIQ complex in KSAB, 19 of the 25-motorcycle entry inspection MBike counters were functioning well.
"There are six entry MBikes lanes under maintenance currently, and the contractors are working tirelessly to get it functioning again," he said.
Meanwhile, out of the 25 MBike counters at the exit motorcycle lane at KSAB, five are undergoing maintenance works.
He added the traffic conditions are currently under control, and the immigration officers are prepared to address any potential system disruptions immediately.
He also apologised for the inconvenience caused and assured efforts are underway to resolve the issue.
Meanwhile, Ruslin said among the initiatives taken to address congestion at KSAB, was to convert an existing space into a new police station.
He said the station was handed to the police on Jan 31, this year.
Policemen attached to the station are tasked to monitor and coordinate movement in and out of the complex, and to help reduce congestion.
He added several approved upgrading projects that will commence this month include a traffic administration office, operation and travelling control officer's rooms, an inbound office and an inquiry office.