JOHOR BAHARU: Malaysia hopes Singapore will also help in easing the congestion of lorries heading to the republic via the Johor Causeway, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said yesterday.He said Malaysia had introduced certain measures at the Tanjung Puteri Customs Complex, among them terminating the gate control system at the second inspection point, adding on Customs personnel and having two additional lanes, at the end of last year.
“These measures have helped to ease congestion and facilitate the movement of lorries to Singapore in line with the government’s desire to step up commerce between the two countries,” he told reporters after a visit to the complex and attending a briefing on Customs operations at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex at the Sultan Iskandar building, here.
Ahmad Husni also said the area for movement of export cargo lorries would also be expanded.
On the CIQ complex, he said traffic congestion at peak hours at the short-term access (STA), arising from the winding road, would be eased with the completion of the medium-term link in March next year.
This will shorten the walking distance, from 500 metres to 340 metres, for bus passengers who use the Johor Baharu Sentral access to the passport counters, he said.
Ahmad Husni said the Immigration Department would open more passport counters during peak hours while Plus would make available additional teams to handle four Touch & Go top-up machines for motorists. — Bernama