Why Tuas checks cannot copy Changi

The Straits Times
19 Feb 2009

I THANK Mr Mohamed Riduwan Ya'acob ('Festive frustration', Jan 30) and Mr John Cheong ('End traffic chaos at Tuas Checkpoint', Jan 31) for their feedback on the traffic situation at Tuas Checkpoint during the recent Chinese New Year holiday. There was an exceptionally high volume of commuters using the Second Link during the period, which saw higher than usual volume of travellers and traffic build-up.

To facilitate clearance during the peak period, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) deployed all its available manpower - even recalling off-duty officers - so that as many counters as possible could be opened. Travellers' cooperation, including pre-planning their journeys and maintaining lane discipline, is critical in ensuring smooth traffic during these periods.

At Tuas Checkpoint, there are clear signs on Singapore's side of the bridge to indicate the designated lanes for different vehicle types. Officers are also stationed on the link bridge to enforce lane discipline. In Mr Ya'acob's case, he was turned back and asked to rejoin the car queue as he was using the lane meant for buses. In addition, as his vehicle was more than 200m away from the mobile toilets, had he been allowed to stop his car in the bus lane to use the mobile toilet facilities, the traffic queue would have been brought to a standstill.

On Mr Cheong's suggestions to adopt Changi Airport's model of selective checks at the land checkpoints, we wish to explain that the design of security processes and procedures at checkpoints takes into consideration many factors, one of which is the mode of conveyance.

While we are able to deploy multi-layered screening processes at the airport, these would not be feasible at the land checkpoints. At the land checkpoints, it is imperative to conduct mandatory checks on all vehicles, as smugglers have used conveyances to conceal illegal immigrants and items of security concerns. However, to minimise waiting time for travellers, we practise a risk-management approach in checking baggage in vehicles.

The ICA appreciates feedback on improving clearance efficiency and will minimise inconvenience and delays to travellers as far as possible. At the same time, we seek travellers' understanding that they may at times have to put up with some inconvenience in the interest of ensuring the security and safety of our borders.

Chia Hui Keng (Miss)
Head, Public & Internal Communications Branch
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

Festive frustration

The Straits Times
30 Jan 2009

'After enduring the jam, I asked the officer who told me to return to Malaysia if I could use the toilet first. The portable toilets were only metres away. He told me to leave immediately. I had to pay the toll to enter Malaysia again and use a toilet there.'

MR MOHAMED RIDUWAN YA'ACOB: 'I was returning from Malaysia to Singapore at Tuas Checkpoint on the second day of Chinese New Year. After being caught in a traffic jam for more than 11/2 hours, I was relieved to reach the checkpoint. However, a police officer told me to make a U-turn back to Malaysia and took down my vehicle number as I had strayed into the lane meant for buses. First, there was no indication that the lane was meant for buses. Second, there were no cones or markers to separate the bus lane from that meant for cars. Third, the police were positioned 100m from the sign that indicated which lanes were meant for which vehicles. After enduring the jam, I asked the officer who told me to return to Malaysia if I could use the toilet first. The portable toilets were only metres away. He told me firmly to leave immediately. I had to pay the toll to enter Malaysia again and use a toilet there.'

End traffic chaos at Tuas Checkpoint

The Straits Times
31 Jan 2009

I WRITE out of sheer exasperation at the poor systems and processes at Tuas Checkpoint.

This Chinese New Year, I spent two hours in a car queue leaving Singapore on Saturday morning, then three hours in a return queue on Tuesday night. At one point on Tuesday, traffic was completely stationary on the bridge for 45 minutes. I shudder to think of the discomfort to thousands of people there and the financial and environmental cost of thousands of litres of fuel burnt.

The following are areas in need of overhaul, especially in contrast to immigration and security at Changi Airport, which are efficient and courteous.

Traffic system

The booths are positioned such that one has to hand in immigration documents via the passenger window. This is acceptable when there are passengers in a car but I have had to leave my car and walk around the front. This is a waste of time and raises security issues.

The system of having three lanes lead to each block disadvantages drivers in the outer lanes as they can usually choose only one booth. The recent attempt to improve this by stationing officers to direct traffic has been inconsistent and confusing.

Traffic returning to Singapore is caught in a jam. Legitimate traffic in the second lane from the right is penalised when cars caught in the left-most bus lane try to cut into legitimate car lanes. There should be earlier lane-marking signs or gantries. I also suggest a flexible lane system to allow heavier traffic to squeeze through, and widening the entry point to more than the current two lanes. Manual traffic control is poor.

Slow and sullen passport checking

Officers are usually slow and, almost without fail, sullen. I contrast this with Changi Airport, where even if officers do not greet you, they at least acknowledge you.

Slow and inefficient security checks

Mandatory security checks are insufficient and a waste of time. Officers often do not even look carefully at the contents of a car boot before waving you on. So why must drivers open the boot? If they are looking for stowaways, I suggest clear stop zones with officers stationed behind cars.

One officer rudely required me to have a bag X-rayed, while completely failing to see and check more bags on my front seat. What is the point of all this activity if it yields no measurable security result? I suggest the model of Changi Airport be employed - random spot checks.

The traffic flow in these security check lanes is also bad. When the car in front is stopped for a more thorough search, all those behind are stuck too. The lane system should be revised to allow cars to bypass the ones that are stopped.

John Cheong