ISKANDAR PUTERI, May 13 – The state government is mulling a proposal to increase the number of train coaches for Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) at Johor Bahru Sentral to streamline the movement of travellers at the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex.
“At least from the four coaches available at present to five. Each coach can accommodate 80 passengers per trip.
“If approved, there will be an additional 2,480 passengers per day,” said Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi at the State Legislative Assembly sitting in Kota Iskandar on Monday.
He was responding to a question from Liow Cai Tung (PH-Johor Jaya), who wanted to know about the government’s efforts to ease travellers’ movement at both land entry points between Malaysia and Singapore.
Onn Hafiz (BN-Machap) said among the other measures proposed to ease cross-border travel at the BSI CIQ Complex are increasing the number of motorcycle lanes to 44 and implementing the QR code system for bus passengers and motorcyclists.
As for the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB), the proposed measures include integrating the bus passenger halls, increasing motorcycle lanes to 33 and implementing QR codes for bus passengers and motorcyclists.
“I understand many are unhappy with my presence at the main entry points. Many dislike my spot checks, but believe me, I will not stop until we resolve the legacy issues haunting the people in this state and country.
“I am confident that with the new leadership in Johor Immigration, we can address issues involving the 250,000 residents of this state who commute to and from Singapore every day to earn a living,” he said.
Meanwhile, Onn Hafiz said matters pertaining to the cross-border movement between Johor and Singapore are not under the state government’s jurisdiction but that of the federal government.
“However, the state government is part of the Special Committee to Address Congestion at the Johor Causeway, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister. In fact, Johor is a permanent member of this committee, and I’m in constant communication with the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to help resolve the daily congestion issues there,” he said.
Last Thursday, the Johor Regent Tunku Mahkota Ismail said the frequent congestion issues reported at the BSI CIQ Complex and KSAB need to be resolved without compromise as both are vital assets for the state’s economic development.
