JOHOR BARU: The Home Ministry is seriously considering reopening a pedestrian shortcut to Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (BSI CIQ) to provide a significantly shorter route to Immigration counters.

       At least two major government agencies, namely the police and the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) have also voiced their support for the move as this will ease congestion in the city area.

       Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said a joint committee chaired by him and Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi had previously been formed to look into tackling traffic congestion on the Causeway.

       “Among the matters discussed were initiatives to ease the congestion, which includes components such as lanes for lorries, buses, private vehicles, motorcycles and pedestrians.

       “The shortcut is one of the aspects that is being given serious attention by the committee as a solution to improve the situation,” he said when met by reporters after a ceramah for the Pulai parliamentary seat by-election in Taman Dahlia here on Tuesday.However, when pressed further, Saifuddin Nasution did not provide a timeline for the reopening.

       He was asked to comment on The Star’s report on Aug 17 which highlighted that hundreds of pedestrians, including pregnant women and senior citizens, had asked for the shortcut to be reopened.

       According to a BSI CIQ official, pedestrians were allowed access through the walkway – located near the lorry entrance – to enter the building for many years, until the Home Ministry stopped it during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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       Regular users said the shorter route, near the old Lion Hotel (now known as Hako Hotel) along Jalan Lingkaran Dalam, saved them time and toil as they are now forced to walk 1.5km around the CIQ complex.

       They said reopening the shortcut would also disperse traffic from the city centre, which is now heavily congested during peak hours and weekends, due to ongoing construction works for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link.

       Checks by The Star showed that signs have been put up to warn pedestrians from approaching the access, while auxiliary and traffic policemen are posted there to turn away those who try to use the shortcut.

       The area has two functioning escalators and is only a few minutes’ walk to the Immigration counters.

       On Aug 19, Onn Hafiz said he supported the move to reopen the shortcut, and that the issue of access at the checkpoint had been brought up to the Home Ministry.

       He reportedly said a thorough study was needed to address safety concerns involving the proposed shortcut, and hoped the ministry would make a decision soon.

       Meanwhile, MBJB mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman told The Star that the council was prepared to provide shuttle services between the shortcut and nearby parking lots if the route was reopened.

       He said this would significantly reduce congestion and parking issues in the city area, which are getting worse.

       “It will also encourage those working in Singapore to park at the private parking areas in Stulang, which is currently under-utilised, and MBJB can provide shuttle services between the two points.

       “Before that, we will have to find a suitable and safe location for a bus stop near the shortcut,” he added.

       Johor Baru South OCPD Asst Comm Raub Selamat said the police were also in favour of reopening the shortcut.

       “The RTS Link construction in the city centre has worsened the traffic congestion, especially during the holiday season in both Malaysia and Singapore.

       “If the shortcut is reopened, we are prepared to station some policemen to man the area, depending on need.

       “We will also work closely with MBJB to ensure the safety of those using the shortcut,” he added.