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Singapore says not possible to do away with immigration, custom checks for departing travellers

Source: Star Online, 10/02/2018

Singapore says not possible to do away with immigration, custom checks
for departing travellers
10 Feb 2018 ï¿½` Star Online
SINGAPORE: It is `not possible to do away with immigration and custom
checks for departing travellers`, Singapore`s Ministry of Home Affairs
(MHA) said in response to a purported proposal mooted by Malaysian
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for a single checkpoint at
the Johor Causeway.
In a response to The Straits Times on Saturday (Feb 10), the MHA said
that departure checks are a `vital part of Singapore`s border security
strategy`.
`The Singapore Government will continue to work with Malaysia to
explore other practical ways to facilitate travel between Singapore and
Malaysia,` it added.
The response came following a report quoting Najib on a proposal for a
single checkpoint to improve traffic flow at the Johor Causeway.
Najib said the plan was for people going to Singapore to be checked in
the republic and those heading to Johor checked on the Malaysian side.
There was also a proposal to have a covered walkway for pedestrians, he
said.
`These are among the recommendations being looked into by a task force
headed by the Deputy Prime Minister,` Najib said after a meet-the-
people session in Bukit Mor, Muar, on Friday (Feb 9).
Even as MHA issued its response, some commuters told ST that they
believe the proposed move may help cut down travel times, especially
during festive seasons, such as the upcoming Chinese New Year weekend.
IT manager Chris Wong, 35, who frequents Johor Baru with his family
every few weeks to buy groceries, would sometimes get caught in the jam
at the Causeway. It can take nearly two hours to get across the
Causeway on some occasions, he said.
`Sometimes, the traffic flow would be so heavy and we would get stuck
for a really long time,` added Wong. `Hopefully, this move helps to
improve the flow, and shorten the time to get across the Causeway.`
Others, however, expect the security checks to be more stringent.

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