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Response to " Ways to ease traffic flow at checkpoint" (Straits Times, 23 Feb 09) and "Mega-facility at Tuas but few open booths" (Straits Times, 28 Feb 09)
CHECKPOINT TRAFFIC
S'pore can't let its guard down
28 Mar 09
The Straits Times
I REFER to the letters, 'Ways to ease traffic flow at checkpoint' by Mr John Cheong (Feb 23) and 'Mega-facility at Tuas but few open booths' by Mr Mazlan Samad (Feb 28) on the traffic situation at Tuas Checkpoint.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) appreciates the feedback and suggestions from the writers.
We noted Mr Cheong's suggestion to display signs at the Second Link to give motorists early warning. Only 240m of the Second Link bridge is within Singapore's jurisdiction. Along our side of the bridge, there are already three gantries to direct motorists to the correct lane, the first of which marks the beginning of Singapore's jurisdiction.
The rest of the bridge is not within our jurisdiction. We will notify our Malaysian counterparts about Mr Cheong's suggestion.
Some of the writers' concerns centred around the traffic situations at Tuas Checkpoint during the long Chinese New Year weekend, especially on Jan 24. This is because the volume of traffic goes up substantially during such festive periods. Thus, on the morning of Jan 24, there was an increase of 900 per cent more car travellers compared to the weekend before Chinese New Year.
To handle this volume, ICA implemented several measures to facilitate travel while maximising border security efforts.
Besides cross-deployment and scheduling officers to perform overtime duties, we have introduced an overlapping shift system to maximise manpower resources.
We will continue to explore ways to improve waiting time. But it has to be emphasised that delays cannot be totally avoided. Our checkpoints are Singapore's first line of defence. Given the stringent checks we have to undertake, it would not be possible for motorists to go through the checkpoint without waiting, particularly during festive periods.
In the past couple of years, enhanced checks have yielded results as we ferreted out increasing contraband-smuggling attempts at the checkpoints. Such smuggling cases have increased sharply by about 86 per cent from 2006 to last year. This is a major cause for concern as they show smugglers are tenacious in achieving their objectives, despite ICA's relentless efforts in thwarting their attempts. We will do Singapore a disservice if we let our guard down.
Chia Hui Keng (Ms)
Head, Public & Internal Communications Branch
Corporate Communications Division
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
Mega-facility at Tuas but few open booths
28 Feb 09
The Straits Times
I REFER to Mr John Cheong's letter ('End traffic chaos at Tuas checkpoint', Jan 31) and the reply from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority ('Why Tuas cannot copy Changi', Feb 19), regarding the gridlock at Tuas during Chinese New Year.
The only solution to this perennial problem is for ICA to open more immigration booths, rather than react to the situation long after the congestion has formed. Let me give an example.
During the Jan 24 crunch at Tuas, I joined the jam around 4am, even before the Fraser & Neave building. The jam was easily 2km long, but only a few booths were open. I know this from my brother who was ahead of me in the jam.
With media reports of expected heavy jams at the checkpoints before the Jan 24 weekend, surely ICA would have acted to pre-empt this mother of all jams.
Incredibly, it was only around 6am that ICA opened a second block, which added several more booths. A few Traffic Police officers also arrived to help manage the chaotic traffic, especially caused by inconsiderate queue-jumpers.
ICA refers to security checks as an underlying reason for the congestion, and I support this. But the facility at Tuas is almost always grossly under-used, with only a handful of booths open most of the time. If there is a manpower problem, why build this mega-facility in the first place?
Has ICA given thought to the safety, security and well-being of people caught in the jams? All it takes is a vehicle to short-circuit and catch fire to pose danger to those around it. And what if someone needs emergency medical assistance? I cannot imagine an ambulance being able to reach him in time.
While it took me almost four hours to clear the Singapore side on Jan 24, the Malaysian side was a relative breeze, with many of its booths open long before dawn.
Mazlan Samad
Ways to ease traffic flow at checkpoint
23 Feb 09
The Straits Times
I REFER to the reply by the Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority last Thursday ('Why Tuas cannot copy Changi') to my letter, 'End traffic chaos at Tuas checkpoint (Jan 31).'
The fact that motorists who started out before 4am were caught in a jam indicates a level of unpreparedness. I have some suggestions and doubts:
At the entry point, the gantries lie 100m or so from the checkpoint and are not visible from over the brow of the bridge. They therefore serve no useful purpose in ensuring that traffic is directed early to the correct lanes. I refer again to my suggestion to work more closely with the Malaysian authorities to give motorists more advance warning;
A flexible lane as in Nicoll Highway in the past, on either exit or entry, will allow a greater rate of traffic flow;
If vehicle checks are done to ensure there are no stowaways, station an officer at the immigration booth so that, while passports are checked, the boot can be opened to ensure no stowaways are hidden there;
Taking into account my previous point, the idea of selective checks for baggage can be implemented - have the current checking lanes freed up, bar one. Let cars go through the free lanes - 'green' lanes - and direct those that need further checks into a 'red' lane;
The idea that security checks are done to reveal concealed 'items of security concerns' is confusing as these are done at the exit point too; and
As for the security checks at the entry points, the cursory glances the officers typically cast seem grossly insufficient in revealing 'items of security concerns'. I suggest a redesign of the traffic flow to avoid long queues forming behind vehicles that are being more thoroughly checked.
Mr John Cheong
S'pore can't let its guard down
28 Mar 09
The Straits Times
I REFER to the letters, 'Ways to ease traffic flow at checkpoint' by Mr John Cheong (Feb 23) and 'Mega-facility at Tuas but few open booths' by Mr Mazlan Samad (Feb 28) on the traffic situation at Tuas Checkpoint.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) appreciates the feedback and suggestions from the writers.
We noted Mr Cheong's suggestion to display signs at the Second Link to give motorists early warning. Only 240m of the Second Link bridge is within Singapore's jurisdiction. Along our side of the bridge, there are already three gantries to direct motorists to the correct lane, the first of which marks the beginning of Singapore's jurisdiction.
The rest of the bridge is not within our jurisdiction. We will notify our Malaysian counterparts about Mr Cheong's suggestion.
Some of the writers' concerns centred around the traffic situations at Tuas Checkpoint during the long Chinese New Year weekend, especially on Jan 24. This is because the volume of traffic goes up substantially during such festive periods. Thus, on the morning of Jan 24, there was an increase of 900 per cent more car travellers compared to the weekend before Chinese New Year.
To handle this volume, ICA implemented several measures to facilitate travel while maximising border security efforts.
Besides cross-deployment and scheduling officers to perform overtime duties, we have introduced an overlapping shift system to maximise manpower resources.
We will continue to explore ways to improve waiting time. But it has to be emphasised that delays cannot be totally avoided. Our checkpoints are Singapore's first line of defence. Given the stringent checks we have to undertake, it would not be possible for motorists to go through the checkpoint without waiting, particularly during festive periods.
In the past couple of years, enhanced checks have yielded results as we ferreted out increasing contraband-smuggling attempts at the checkpoints. Such smuggling cases have increased sharply by about 86 per cent from 2006 to last year. This is a major cause for concern as they show smugglers are tenacious in achieving their objectives, despite ICA's relentless efforts in thwarting their attempts. We will do Singapore a disservice if we let our guard down.
Chia Hui Keng (Ms)
Head, Public & Internal Communications Branch
Corporate Communications Division
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
Mega-facility at Tuas but few open booths
28 Feb 09
The Straits Times
I REFER to Mr John Cheong's letter ('End traffic chaos at Tuas checkpoint', Jan 31) and the reply from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority ('Why Tuas cannot copy Changi', Feb 19), regarding the gridlock at Tuas during Chinese New Year.
The only solution to this perennial problem is for ICA to open more immigration booths, rather than react to the situation long after the congestion has formed. Let me give an example.
During the Jan 24 crunch at Tuas, I joined the jam around 4am, even before the Fraser & Neave building. The jam was easily 2km long, but only a few booths were open. I know this from my brother who was ahead of me in the jam.
With media reports of expected heavy jams at the checkpoints before the Jan 24 weekend, surely ICA would have acted to pre-empt this mother of all jams.
Incredibly, it was only around 6am that ICA opened a second block, which added several more booths. A few Traffic Police officers also arrived to help manage the chaotic traffic, especially caused by inconsiderate queue-jumpers.
ICA refers to security checks as an underlying reason for the congestion, and I support this. But the facility at Tuas is almost always grossly under-used, with only a handful of booths open most of the time. If there is a manpower problem, why build this mega-facility in the first place?
Has ICA given thought to the safety, security and well-being of people caught in the jams? All it takes is a vehicle to short-circuit and catch fire to pose danger to those around it. And what if someone needs emergency medical assistance? I cannot imagine an ambulance being able to reach him in time.
While it took me almost four hours to clear the Singapore side on Jan 24, the Malaysian side was a relative breeze, with many of its booths open long before dawn.
Mazlan Samad
Ways to ease traffic flow at checkpoint
23 Feb 09
The Straits Times
I REFER to the reply by the Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority last Thursday ('Why Tuas cannot copy Changi') to my letter, 'End traffic chaos at Tuas checkpoint (Jan 31).'
The fact that motorists who started out before 4am were caught in a jam indicates a level of unpreparedness. I have some suggestions and doubts:
At the entry point, the gantries lie 100m or so from the checkpoint and are not visible from over the brow of the bridge. They therefore serve no useful purpose in ensuring that traffic is directed early to the correct lanes. I refer again to my suggestion to work more closely with the Malaysian authorities to give motorists more advance warning;
A flexible lane as in Nicoll Highway in the past, on either exit or entry, will allow a greater rate of traffic flow;
If vehicle checks are done to ensure there are no stowaways, station an officer at the immigration booth so that, while passports are checked, the boot can be opened to ensure no stowaways are hidden there;
Taking into account my previous point, the idea of selective checks for baggage can be implemented - have the current checking lanes freed up, bar one. Let cars go through the free lanes - 'green' lanes - and direct those that need further checks into a 'red' lane;
The idea that security checks are done to reveal concealed 'items of security concerns' is confusing as these are done at the exit point too; and
As for the security checks at the entry points, the cursory glances the officers typically cast seem grossly insufficient in revealing 'items of security concerns'. I suggest a redesign of the traffic flow to avoid long queues forming behind vehicles that are being more thoroughly checked.
Mr John Cheong