ICA Warns of 3-Hour Jam on Checkpoints With Cute Elmo Reel

Are you thinking of driving to Malaysia for the Lunar New Year break?

You may want to prepare early.

In fact, you should start preparing now (if you haven’t done so already). 

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said it expects “very heavy traffic” at both Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints in the lead-up to the Lunar New Year.

The ICA also observed an increase in traffic in the most recent weekend, warning travellers to expect to wait up to three hours to clear immigration.

To spread awareness, the ICA shared a cute Facebook reel starring Elmo, the beloved red monster from the children’s show Sesame Street, reminding travellers to maintain lane discipline. 

Expect up to Three Hour Jams

According to the ICA’s website, the agency observed a trend of more travellers using the land checkpoints during the weekends in January 2024.

The recent weekend of 26 to 28 January saw continuous heavy traffic at both checkpoints, with more than 1,370,000 crossings.

That’s 458,000 crossings daily.

ICA noted that this statistic is an almost 14% increase in daily average crossings compared to the New Year long weekend, which saw only 402,000 crossings daily.

Thus, ICA advised travellers to factor the time needed for immigration clearance into travel time.

It added, “Those clearing immigration by car may have to wait up to three hours.”

Elmo Warns Drivers to Maintain Lane Discipline

The ICA posted a reel to their Facebook page, where Elmo is seen driving a car.

Accompanied by festive Chinese New Year (CNY) music, Elmo then turns his head and says, “Excuse me, please keep to your lane!”

As the festive music in the video intensifies, Elmo is seen repeatedly turning his head, seemingly to scold other travellers for not keeping to their lane. 

The reel was accompanied by an in-video caption stating, “POV (point of view): When driving to Malaysia via land checkpoints during festive weekend.”

This cute reel echoed another piece of advice from ICA.

On its website, the ICA said, “We seek travellers’ understanding and cooperation to be patient, observe traffic rules, maintain lane discipline, and cooperate with ICA officers.”

Tips for a Smoother Journey

Although taking a car to Johor Bahru seems intuitively more convenient at first glance, it isn’t easy to endure a long, slow journey.

Especially if you’re a kiasu Singaporean who likes things to be done fast.

Thus, the ICA has some tips for a smoother journey.

Before embarking on their road trip, motorists should check the traffic situation at the land checkpoints.

They can do so through the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) One Motoring website or the Expressway Monitoring and Advisory System installed along the BKE and AYE.

Motorists can also keep up to date with the traffic situation through ICA’s Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) accounts.

Moreover, they can tune into local radio broadcasts like One 91.3, Kiss92, Hao 96.3 and UFM 100.3 to stay updated.

Motorists should also ensure they have a valid Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP).

Notably, applications for the VEP are no longer accepted at checkpoints to prevent disruption of traffic flow.

In addition, motorists should refrain from queue-cutting at land checkpoints as this inconsiderate act could cause severe congestion and safety concerns.

The ICA warned, “Errant motorists caught queue-cutting will be turned away and made to re-queue.”

Travellers should also ensure their passport is valid for at least another six months.

Travellers would also observe the “three-quarter tank” rule, where their tanks should have a minimum of three-quarters fuel when exiting Singapore.

The ICA reminded travellers that those who don’t comply with the rule may face a fine of up to $500 or court prosecution.

Furthermore, they would be denied entry into Malaysia.

Prohibited Items 

When you think of CNY, the images of firecrackers and bak kwa probably come to mind.

Unfortunately, there is a list of prohibited and controlled items that travellers should refrain from bringing into Singapore.

Items include firecrackers, “Pop-Pop”, weapons, imitation tobacco products like e-vaporisers, potted plants and bak kwa.

The Importance of Preparing Early

It’s best to heed the warnings of the ICA.

After all, both checkpoints have a history of being massively congested during festive seasons.

In December 2023, near Christmas and New Year season, the ICA warned travellers to expect traffic jams of up to three hours.

From 15 to 17 December, the traffic at the land checkpoints saw more than 1,300,000 travellers passing through, averaging nearly 435,000 crossings daily.

Considering that the weekend of 26 to 28 January saw an average of 458,000 crossings daily, it’s better to prepare yourself for a long wait.

In December 2023, the ICA announced that security measures at the checkpoints would be heightened due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, further prolonging the immigration process.

Johor Bahru’s Preparations for Heavy Congestion

On 28 January, the Johor Tourist Guides Association advised the Malaysian authorities to take the necessary steps to reduce congestion at both land checkpoints.

Noting that the expected congestion would be due to CNY, the association’s chairman, Jimmy Leong, said that arrivals into Johor Bahru (JB) would spike and that the crowd from Singapore would arrive even before CNY commences.

He said that authorities should begin monitoring the situation, adding that though the car lanes appear smoother now, the bus lanes at Second Link were not moving as efficiently as expected.

He said, “I have received a lot of complaints about this since last weekend. This was the case even during Christmas and New Year, so I hope the state government will look into this.”

Despite the congestion, Mr Leong acknowledged that the CNY season benefits local businesses.

Business owners told The Star that they expected more Singaporeans to travel to Malaysia this year due to the rise in Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Singapore from 8% to 9%.

Chairman of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (Johor chapter) Ivan Teo noted that hotels have begun to see more guests.

He added that Singaporeans usually do CNY shopping in Malaysia, contributing to increased arrivals.