Back to top
Response to “New car clearance system at Woodlands checkpoint creates more problems” and “Inefficient system at checkpoints” (The Straits Times Online, 25 October 2016)
The Straits Times Online
28 October 2016
Security at the Borders Remains ICA’s Top Priority
We thank Mr V. Kumar ("New car clearance system at Woodlands checkpoint creates more problems") and Mr Manjit Singh ("Inefficient system at checkpoints"; Forum Online, both published on Oct 25) for their letters.
In the current security climate, maintaining security at the borders remains the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority's (ICA) top priority.
ICA has to ensure that the movement of people, goods and vehicles through our checkpoints is legitimate and lawful.
The checks done by ICA have to be thorough for security reasons. Any vehicle and its occupants who are subjected to further checks would have to be kept under close watch until security officers arrive to escort them to another area.
In such circumstances, ICA will redirect other vehicles in the same lane to the next available counter for immigration clearance.
To facilitate the clearance process, we monitor the traffic situation during peak periods closely.
Vehicle lanes can be converted to clear various types of vehicles. This includes converting the departure lorry counters for car clearance where necessary.
This flexibility allows ICA to more optimally regulate the traffic flow at the checkpoints.
ICA will continue to explore ways to strengthen border security and improve the efficiency of the clearance process at the checkpoints.
Travellers can also play a part to facilitate the clearance process.
Travellers are advised to plan their journey and maintain vehicle lane discipline at the checkpoints.
Travellers are also reminded to ensure that they are using their own valid passports and not bring unlawful or prohibited items into or out of Singapore.
Brenda Tham
Deputy Head, Public & Internal Communications
Corporate Communications Division
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
<Original Letters>
The Straits Times Online
25 October 2016
New car clearance system at Woodlands checkpoint creates more problems
As a frequent traveller between Singapore and Malaysia who uses the Woodlands checkpoint in the early evening, I find the new system for car clearance a problem. There used to be two zones allocated to cars at around 5.30pm, and traffic was fairly smooth. Recently, this has been halved, such that there is only one zone for cars. I understand that the reason for this is to allocate more zones to motorcycles, so they can have faster clearance.
However, this has resulted in traffic grinding to a halt as early as 5pm and traffic jams on the Bukit Timah Expressway until late in the night. In trying to solve one problem, another has been created. The cause of the motorcycle congestion in the first place is lane hogging by the motorcycles, and not a lack of lanes. Unfortunately, this problem has not been addressed, and lane hogging is still prevalent.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority needs to have a more thorough plan for traffic management at the Woodlands checkpoint. I hope that it will reinstate the two zones for cars to smoothen traffic in the car lanes in the evenings.
V. Kumar
The Straits Times Online
25 October 2016
Inefficient system at checkpoints
Whenever the occupants of a Malaysia-registered car entering Singapore through the Woodlands or Tuas checkpoint encounter immigration problems, the lane the car is in is closed and vehicles are then diverted to other lanes, thereby reducing the use of one lane and creating congestion.
This is not a good solution, as I have noticed that many Malaysia-registered cars encounter such problems, and a lane gets closed very often, causing a lot of traffic congestion.
My suggestion is that if occupants of a Malaysia-registered vehicle have problems with immigration, the vehicle should be made to be driven out of the lane, to the main office for further checks, so as not to hold up the lane for other vehicles. This is the practice at the Malaysian checkpoints.
Manjit Singh
28 October 2016
Security at the Borders Remains ICA’s Top Priority
We thank Mr V. Kumar ("New car clearance system at Woodlands checkpoint creates more problems") and Mr Manjit Singh ("Inefficient system at checkpoints"; Forum Online, both published on Oct 25) for their letters.
In the current security climate, maintaining security at the borders remains the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority's (ICA) top priority.
ICA has to ensure that the movement of people, goods and vehicles through our checkpoints is legitimate and lawful.
The checks done by ICA have to be thorough for security reasons. Any vehicle and its occupants who are subjected to further checks would have to be kept under close watch until security officers arrive to escort them to another area.
In such circumstances, ICA will redirect other vehicles in the same lane to the next available counter for immigration clearance.
To facilitate the clearance process, we monitor the traffic situation during peak periods closely.
Vehicle lanes can be converted to clear various types of vehicles. This includes converting the departure lorry counters for car clearance where necessary.
This flexibility allows ICA to more optimally regulate the traffic flow at the checkpoints.
ICA will continue to explore ways to strengthen border security and improve the efficiency of the clearance process at the checkpoints.
Travellers can also play a part to facilitate the clearance process.
Travellers are advised to plan their journey and maintain vehicle lane discipline at the checkpoints.
Travellers are also reminded to ensure that they are using their own valid passports and not bring unlawful or prohibited items into or out of Singapore.
Brenda Tham
Deputy Head, Public & Internal Communications
Corporate Communications Division
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
<Original Letters>
The Straits Times Online
25 October 2016
New car clearance system at Woodlands checkpoint creates more problems
As a frequent traveller between Singapore and Malaysia who uses the Woodlands checkpoint in the early evening, I find the new system for car clearance a problem. There used to be two zones allocated to cars at around 5.30pm, and traffic was fairly smooth. Recently, this has been halved, such that there is only one zone for cars. I understand that the reason for this is to allocate more zones to motorcycles, so they can have faster clearance.
However, this has resulted in traffic grinding to a halt as early as 5pm and traffic jams on the Bukit Timah Expressway until late in the night. In trying to solve one problem, another has been created. The cause of the motorcycle congestion in the first place is lane hogging by the motorcycles, and not a lack of lanes. Unfortunately, this problem has not been addressed, and lane hogging is still prevalent.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority needs to have a more thorough plan for traffic management at the Woodlands checkpoint. I hope that it will reinstate the two zones for cars to smoothen traffic in the car lanes in the evenings.
V. Kumar
The Straits Times Online
25 October 2016
Inefficient system at checkpoints
Whenever the occupants of a Malaysia-registered car entering Singapore through the Woodlands or Tuas checkpoint encounter immigration problems, the lane the car is in is closed and vehicles are then diverted to other lanes, thereby reducing the use of one lane and creating congestion.
This is not a good solution, as I have noticed that many Malaysia-registered cars encounter such problems, and a lane gets closed very often, causing a lot of traffic congestion.
My suggestion is that if occupants of a Malaysia-registered vehicle have problems with immigration, the vehicle should be made to be driven out of the lane, to the main office for further checks, so as not to hold up the lane for other vehicles. This is the practice at the Malaysian checkpoints.
Manjit Singh