Roy (left) checks on an immigration counter at Sungai Tujuh.
Roy (second left) checks on vehicles from Brunei coming into the checkpoint.
MIRI: The number of vehicles going through the Sungai Tujuh customs, immigration and quarantine checkpoint at Kuala Baram this year is expected to reach 100,000 after Chinese New Year.
Miri immigration chief Roy G Fender Entusa said during the first three weeks of the year, a total of 33,000 vehicles went through the checkpoint and this is expected to increase to 66,000 with Chinese New Year fast approaching.
“Now we have opened 12 counters to cut down the long queues expected with Bruneians and other nationalities crossing the checkpoint,” he told the media at the checkpoint yesterday.
He said with the two additional counters operational, the queuing time is expected to be between two and three
hours.
The trial run of using 12 counters began two weeks ago, he said, and the time required to process each passport was around two seconds.
Roy added that immigration personnel will work two shifts.
“Please plan your journey. Stay safe and not rush at the last minute to avoid congestion,” he said.
Meanwhile, Roy said security at the Sungai Tujuh checkpoint has been tightened due to the recent terror attacks in Indonesia.
“The security of travellers is the top priority and we cannot compromise on it,” he said.