ISKANDAR PUTERI: More than 12 million people have travelled between Malaysia and Singapore using the Sultan Iskandar (BSI) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex as well as the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB), says Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

       He said based on Immigration Department records, some 6.3 million Malaysians and 2.3 million foreigners travelled through BSI (via the Johor Causeway) from April 1 to last Tuesday (June 14).

       "In the same period, some 2.7 million locals and 704,000 foreigners travelled through the KSAB (via the Second Link)," he added.

       Onn Hafiz said this in reply to Andrew Chen Kah Eng (PH-Stulang), Chew Chong Sin (PH-Mengkibol) and Hasrunizah Hassan (BN-Pulai Sebatang) at the state assembly meeting at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar here on Monday (June 20).

       They had asked about the situation at both checkpoints since borders reopened on April 1.

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       Onn Hafiz added that the average entry and exit statistics of Malaysians and travellers at BSI was 138,000 people a day and 28,000 at KSAB.

       He said for Malaysians passing through BSI between April and June, 42.9% travelled by bus, 38.1% by motorcycle, 15.2% by car and 3.7% by lorry.

       For non-citizens, the breakdown was 38.6% in buses, 54.7% in cars, 6.6% on motorcycles and 0.1% in lorries.

       Over the same period in KSAB, 61% of Malaysians travelled by motorcycle, 23.3% by car, 6.2% by bus and 9.6% by lorry.

       For non-citizens, the figures were 78.3% in cars, 12.2% on motorcycles, 9.5% in buses and 0.01% in lorries.

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       "The Johor government is aware that the number of inbound and outbound users in both places has increased dramatically.

       "Therefore, I have discussed with all agencies to ensure more focused efforts and commitment, to (maintain) the image and reputation of the state and Federal governments," he added.

       Onn Hafiz said BSI had 38 counters for cars, 50 for motorcycles, 12 for heavy vehicles, and 42 automatic and manual counters for buses.

       At KSAB, there are 24 counters for cars, 25 for motorcycles, 26 for buses and three for heavy vehicles.

       "In total, a total of 284 exit and entry counters operate at BSI and 169 counters at KSAB. To strengthen the effectiveness of services in these two CIQ, the manpower and capacity have also been increased.

       "The Immigration Department has stationed 1,631 personnel there, the Customs Department 722, Road Transport Department 87, and police, 206," he added.

       Onn Hafiz said although borders were now reopened, there were still issues to be ironed out.

       "The state government will continue to cooperate with the Federal Government, especially to strengthen services at both CIQ to be more effective," he said.