SHAHRIR: CIQ teething woes to go up before Cabinet

JOHOR BARU: The problems plaguing the new Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex will be brought to the attention of the Cabinet this week.

Johor Baru MP Datuk Shahrir Samad said that after the discussion at Cabinet level he hoped to visit the site this month to see how the problems could be tackled.

"I have been receiving complaints, and I am aware of the unhappiness," he said yesterday.

Among the grouses raised by the public are narrow roads, long queues at the complex, poor signage, traffic congestion, and dirty toilets.

The people have also complained about not being allowed to walk across the Causeway, while business owners have said the new complex had taken their customers away as travellers now bypass the city centre where they are located.

Vandals have also struck at the complex less than a month after its opening, cutting holes in a perimeter fence and posing a possible security breach.

One of those who are unhappy with the complex, Malaysian Indian Business Council president P. Sivakumar, described the new complex as a nightmare for travellers.

"Last week, five businesses including two moneychangers and a restaurant had to close down. We expect the situation to worsen," he said, adding that the complex was badly designed.

Sivakumar suggested that the old complex be reopened for motorcyclists and pedestrians. This would bring 5,000 to 10,000 travellers into the city again, he said.

Johor Immigration Director Mohd Nasri Ishak said the problems raised were similar to glitches experienced at the old complex located near the Causeway, and he was confident the problems would be overcome soon.

"Everyone must adjust to the new complex. The situation will eventually stabilise," he said.

Meanwhile, Johor Baru (South) OCPD Asst Comm Zainuddin Yaakob said the police had not received any reports about the complex.

He added that he was not aware that the perimeter fencing around the complex had been vandalised. -The Star/Asia News Network

CIQ teething woes to go up before Cabinet
AsiaOne, Singapore

Crawl at CIQ complex checkpoint on first day

JOHOR BARU: The first day of operations at the new Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex was marred by massive traffic congestion.

The two-hour-long crawl saw traffic into Johor snaking all the way to Woodlands in Singapore during peak hours due to motorists being caught off guard by the cashless toll collection system at the complex.

Many motorists, especially Singaporeans, did not know that they were required to use Touch ’n Go cards at the new complex in Bukit Cagar.

First day blues: THE new Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex in Johor Baru opened to motorists at 12.01am Tuesday. There was congestion shortly after the opening (main picture) as well as during peak hours, as seen in the picture taken at 1.30pm (inset). Most of the congestion was caused by traffic from Singapore entering Malaysia. See Page 6. — KENNETH WONG / The Star

The congestion did not let up even when Plus officials were stationed at the complex entrance to sell RM20 cards on the spot to motorists.

Counters were also set up at the old checkpoint.

Notices were also placed at Woodlands informing motorist about the traffic congestion at the entrance into Malaysia.

Singaporean businessman John Tan, 45, said he only found out about the cards when he entered Johor via the new complex.

Long wait: The first batch of road users using the new Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex after its opening at midnight Tuesday.

“I was excited to use the new complex and expected it to be more efficient than the old Causeway checkpoint,” he said adding he was surprised when he was told he had to use the card for toll payment.

However, Tan said he was impressed with the design of the new complex.

Fellow Singaporean Tommy Ong, 40, said the authorities should have made the public more aware that Touch ‘n Go cards had to be used.

Malaysian chef Chan Pon Soh, 30 said it was “historic” to be among the first batch of road users using the new complex despite technical difficulties.

“Luckily for me, I already have a Touch ‘n Go card which I use on the North-South Expressway,” he said.

At the Causeway, workers are diverting traffic to the new complex.

Malaysian K. Selvaraju, 41, said he was disappointed with the congestion. “I was hoping for a smoother ride but it was not the case.’’

Johor Immigration director Mohd Nasri Ishak said the congestion was due to motorists not having Touch ‘n Go cards and not used to the new road system.

“The jams were mainly during peak hours in the morning and even when people returned from work,” he said.

He said that adequate notices had been put up informing the public about the cashless toll system adding that all 200 counters for in-bound and out-bound were operational on the first day.

Crawl at CIQ complex checkpoint on first day
Malaysia Star, Malaysia

Johor's new CIQ complex gets off to crawling start

JOHOR BARU: Beng knew what to expect as he manoeuvred through yet another night of traffic jams on the Causeway on Monday night.

It was tiring, but he persevered on his rattling motorcycle as he made his routine daily after-work journey from Singapore to Johor Baru about 11.30pm.

When the traffic got too heavy, the 42-year-old cook parked his motorcycle at the side of the Causeway.

He heaved a sigh of relief as he reflected that this would be the last time he would be at the 41-year-old Malaysian checkpoint at the end of the Malaysian side of the Causeway.

Beng was excited about the opening of the brand-new Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex.
"I knew from reports in the newspapers that the old building would be closed at midnight.

"I have seen the (new) building from afar and it looks marvellous. Now, we have something to boast about to the Singaporeans. I am proud to be a Malaysian," he said.

At a minute past midnight last night, the Causeway checkpoint was shut down and the new CIQ complex opened.

The opening of the new CIQ complex was, however, not as smooth as expected.

Although the authorities had expected that the closure of the old checkpoint would smoothen the passage of vehicles from the Causeway, traffic almost came to a standstill when motorists were directed to a two-lane expressway to the new CIQ complex.

JohorImmigration director Mohd Nasri Ishak, however, described the situation as a "minor congestion".

He blamed it on motorists adapting to a new route and a few "technical glitches".

CIQ personnel were seen trying to regulate the traffic flow and to direct the traffic to the toll booths instead of queuing up in one long line.

Another problem was that many motorists were unaware that the CIQ toll booths would only accept payment via Touch 'n Go cards.

A Singaporean was caught off-guard as he did not have any ringgit with him to buy the RM20 prepaid Touch 'n Go card.

"I only have Singaporean dollars. Can I still buy a card?" he asked.

Fortunately, the Touch 'n Go personnel were accepting payment in foreign currency.

A Malaysian, Chan Pon Sock, 30, said he only knew about the Touch 'n Go payment system upon entering the CIQ complex.

The CIQ complex houses impressive checkpoint facilities -- with 38 lanes for cars, 50 motorcycle lanes and 18 lanes for buses.

However, on leaving the CIQ complex, many road users were caught by surprise when several policemen with light batons signalled them to stop.

As more and more motorists were stopped, one or two cast a wry glance at reporters and photographers.

"Are we in trouble? Why are they stopping us? Have we done anything wrong?" a motorcyclist with a Singaporean plate registration number asked.

What a relief it was when told that they would be "flagged off" by a number of dignitaries, including Johor Baru mayor Datuk Mohd Naim Nasir and Johor Customs director Muhamad Subre Ishak, to mark the first entry to the CIQ complex.





Johor's new CIQ complex gets off to crawling start
New Straits Times, Malaysia

Sultan Iskandar CIQ checkpoint

Motorists heading towards the new Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex were caught in a massive jam along the Malaysia-Singapore Causeway. - 16 December, 2008

[Massive traffic congestion at CIQ]
Malaysia Star, Malaysia

Kompleks CIQ Bukit Chagar dibuka secara rasmi esok

30/11/2008 9:10pm

JOHOR BAHRU 30 Nov. — Setelah ditunggu-tunggu oleh pelbagai pihak sejak sekian lama, akhirnya Kompleks Kastam, Imigresen dan Kuarantin (CIQ) baru di Bukit Chagar dibuka secara rasmi esok.

Sultan Johor Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail dijadual berangkat menyempurnakan pembukaan rasmi CIQ itu pada majlis yang turut dihadiri Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Dikenali sebagai Kompleks Sultan Iskandar, kompleks berkenaan akan menempatkan 18 agensi kerajaan serta mampu mengendalikan 70 juta pelawat yang memasuki negara ini dari Singapura setiap tahun.

Bangunan pintar ini mempunyai 76 lorong kereta untuk masuk dan keluar dari Malaysia.

Ia juga menyediakan 50 lorong masuk dan 50 lorong keluar untuk motosikal, 879 petak pakir untuk kereta dan 25 petak untuk bas.

Kadar bayaran dijangka sama dengan yang dikenakan di kompleks sedia ada dan pengguna boleh membuat bayaran menggunakan kad Touch n Go.

Kompleks itu juga menyediakan paparan maklumat dalam pelbagai bahasa secara sentuh layar bagi kemudahan pelawat yang memasuki Johor.

Aras satu kompleks itu akan mengendalikan perjalanan dengan kereta dan motosikal, manakala ars dua bagi mereka yang membuat perjalanan dengan bas.

Pembinaan kompleks ini bermula pada 2001 dan dijadual siap pada 2006.

Bagaimanapun, ia tidak dapat disiapkan mengikut jadual asal berikutan pembatalan pembinaan projek Jambatan Indah dan jalan yang menghubungkannya dengan Tambak Johor.

— BERNAMA