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Response to "Stricter checks at border points till fugitive is nabbed" (Straits Times, 18 March 2008)
ST Forum
Steps to speed up checks despite tighter security
447 words
24 March 2008
Straits Times
English
(c) 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Limited
Eunice Chu (Ms) Deputy Director, Corporate Communications Division For Commissioner, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
I REFER to the report, 'Stricter checks at border points till fugitive is nabbed', and the letters, 'Act to ease Causeway traffic' and 'Isn't it time to use whatever we can to make things better?' (March 18).
The report said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) had announced, on March 17, stricter checks at the checkpoints that included fingerprint scans for all travellers except children and full inspections of all vehicles entering and leaving Singapore. This is clearly wrong and puzzling.
Fingerprint scans had already been in place since Feb 27 and The Straits Times Interactive reported on it on March7 in 'Crossing the Causeway? Passports, please - and fingerprints'. All vehicles leaving Singapore had already been subject to 100 per cent checks since Feb 27 - the day Mas Selamat Kastari escaped.
While ICA maintains tight security checks, we recognise there are inconveniences. We will continue to take measures to improve clearance efficiency without compromising security. We have introduced measures such as dedicated lanes for school buses to expedite clearance of students living in Johor and studying in Singapore. We have enlarged the operating area for radiographic scanning and inspections, so more lorries can be checked at the same time. Also, as an amenity to drivers, portable toilets have been made available along the way to the land checkpoints.
With enhanced security checks, traffic build-up is inevitable, particularly when a large number of travellers want to use the checkpoints at the same time. Travellers can play a part to ease congestion at the land checkpoints by adjusting their travel plans to avoid peak periods, abiding by traffic rules and observing lane discipline. Travellers are also encouraged to car-pool or use public transport. Lorries have also re-routed to use Tuas instead of Woodlands checkpoint, and this is an option drivers can use to alleviate congestion further.
Travellers are also reminded to ensure they are carrying their own passports before immigration clearance at the checkpoints. ICA has encountered cases where travellers presented the wrong passports for immigration clearance and this has affected clearance efficiency and caused inconvenience to other travellers.
Singapore's security is our utmost concern. We seek the public's continued understanding and cooperation in our efforts to keep our nation safe and secure.
TRAVELLERS CAN HELP
Travellers can play a part to ease congestion at the land checkpoints by adjusting their travel plans to avoid peak periods, abiding by traffic rules and observing lane discipline. Travellers are also encouraged to car-pool or use public transport.
Singapore
Stricter checks at border points till fugitive is nabbed
Carolyn Quek
446 words
18 March 2008
Straits Times
English
(c) 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Limited
All travellers, except children, subject to fingerprint scans; steps taken to ease lot of those leaving S'pore
SECURITY at Singapore's checkpoints will be further tightened, with all travellers leaving the country - except children - subject to fingerprint scans from now on.
The checks, which will also include full inspections of all vehicles entering and leaving the country, will go on until escaped terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari is caught, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced yesterday.
But while acknowledging that the stepped-up checks, in place since Mas Selamat escaped on Feb 27, will add to delays at checkpoints - it can take an extra hour for cars to clear, and four hours more for buses - the ICA also moved yesterday to improve the lot of those leaving Singapore by land transport.
It has roped in the National Environment Agency to place portable toilets on roads that lead to the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. Six such toilets were placed along the road leading to the Causeway, while others have been placed en route to the Second Link.
The ICA also began a trial yesterday to make rides in the evenings smoother for school buses leaving Singapore.
It is recommending an alternative route for these buses - mostly the distinctive yellow Bas Sekolah (Malay for school bus) - to take so that they can avoid the evening gridlock.
About 1,100 students from Malaysia who attend Singapore schools are cleared at the arrival and departure halls each day during the school term, said the ICA. They are ferried by about 35 to 40 buses.
Before checks were stepped up, a bus would take about 45 minutes to clear the Woodlands Checkpoint, but this could take about two hours now, said Deputy Superintendent Tan Kong Hui, deputy commander of the Woodlands Checkpoint.
To cut the wait, the ICA informed school bus drivers of the new route, which skirts the Bukit Timah Expressway and Woodlands Centre Road near Woodlands Town Garden, and goes via Admiralty Road around Woodlands Centre Road near Block 6A.
ICA officers will be deployed along the route from 6 pm to 8pm to guide the school buses and make sure other vehicles give way to them.
Deputy Superintendent Tan said there are no plans to extend this initiative to other vehicles yet.
'We want to focus our efforts on the children. We want to ensure that they can clear immigration early so that they can go home and get enough rest,' he said.
The ICA has roped in more officers from other Home Team units to help speed up checks.
Steps to speed up checks despite tighter security
447 words
24 March 2008
Straits Times
English
(c) 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Limited
Eunice Chu (Ms) Deputy Director, Corporate Communications Division For Commissioner, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
I REFER to the report, 'Stricter checks at border points till fugitive is nabbed', and the letters, 'Act to ease Causeway traffic' and 'Isn't it time to use whatever we can to make things better?' (March 18).
The report said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) had announced, on March 17, stricter checks at the checkpoints that included fingerprint scans for all travellers except children and full inspections of all vehicles entering and leaving Singapore. This is clearly wrong and puzzling.
Fingerprint scans had already been in place since Feb 27 and The Straits Times Interactive reported on it on March7 in 'Crossing the Causeway? Passports, please - and fingerprints'. All vehicles leaving Singapore had already been subject to 100 per cent checks since Feb 27 - the day Mas Selamat Kastari escaped.
While ICA maintains tight security checks, we recognise there are inconveniences. We will continue to take measures to improve clearance efficiency without compromising security. We have introduced measures such as dedicated lanes for school buses to expedite clearance of students living in Johor and studying in Singapore. We have enlarged the operating area for radiographic scanning and inspections, so more lorries can be checked at the same time. Also, as an amenity to drivers, portable toilets have been made available along the way to the land checkpoints.
With enhanced security checks, traffic build-up is inevitable, particularly when a large number of travellers want to use the checkpoints at the same time. Travellers can play a part to ease congestion at the land checkpoints by adjusting their travel plans to avoid peak periods, abiding by traffic rules and observing lane discipline. Travellers are also encouraged to car-pool or use public transport. Lorries have also re-routed to use Tuas instead of Woodlands checkpoint, and this is an option drivers can use to alleviate congestion further.
Travellers are also reminded to ensure they are carrying their own passports before immigration clearance at the checkpoints. ICA has encountered cases where travellers presented the wrong passports for immigration clearance and this has affected clearance efficiency and caused inconvenience to other travellers.
Singapore's security is our utmost concern. We seek the public's continued understanding and cooperation in our efforts to keep our nation safe and secure.
TRAVELLERS CAN HELP
Travellers can play a part to ease congestion at the land checkpoints by adjusting their travel plans to avoid peak periods, abiding by traffic rules and observing lane discipline. Travellers are also encouraged to car-pool or use public transport.
Singapore
Stricter checks at border points till fugitive is nabbed
Carolyn Quek
446 words
18 March 2008
Straits Times
English
(c) 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Limited
All travellers, except children, subject to fingerprint scans; steps taken to ease lot of those leaving S'pore
SECURITY at Singapore's checkpoints will be further tightened, with all travellers leaving the country - except children - subject to fingerprint scans from now on.
The checks, which will also include full inspections of all vehicles entering and leaving the country, will go on until escaped terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari is caught, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced yesterday.
But while acknowledging that the stepped-up checks, in place since Mas Selamat escaped on Feb 27, will add to delays at checkpoints - it can take an extra hour for cars to clear, and four hours more for buses - the ICA also moved yesterday to improve the lot of those leaving Singapore by land transport.
It has roped in the National Environment Agency to place portable toilets on roads that lead to the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. Six such toilets were placed along the road leading to the Causeway, while others have been placed en route to the Second Link.
The ICA also began a trial yesterday to make rides in the evenings smoother for school buses leaving Singapore.
It is recommending an alternative route for these buses - mostly the distinctive yellow Bas Sekolah (Malay for school bus) - to take so that they can avoid the evening gridlock.
About 1,100 students from Malaysia who attend Singapore schools are cleared at the arrival and departure halls each day during the school term, said the ICA. They are ferried by about 35 to 40 buses.
Before checks were stepped up, a bus would take about 45 minutes to clear the Woodlands Checkpoint, but this could take about two hours now, said Deputy Superintendent Tan Kong Hui, deputy commander of the Woodlands Checkpoint.
To cut the wait, the ICA informed school bus drivers of the new route, which skirts the Bukit Timah Expressway and Woodlands Centre Road near Woodlands Town Garden, and goes via Admiralty Road around Woodlands Centre Road near Block 6A.
ICA officers will be deployed along the route from 6 pm to 8pm to guide the school buses and make sure other vehicles give way to them.
Deputy Superintendent Tan said there are no plans to extend this initiative to other vehicles yet.
'We want to focus our efforts on the children. We want to ensure that they can clear immigration early so that they can go home and get enough rest,' he said.
The ICA has roped in more officers from other Home Team units to help speed up checks.