Last Updated on 2023-05-05 , 11:18 am
With the long weekend coming up due to the Labour Day holiday, there’s no guessing what’s on many Singaporeans’ minds.
Sleeping a lot.
And going to Malaysia.
But while crossing the customs to get into Malaysia over the next few days for cheap food and shopping might seem like a brilliant idea, news flash: You might be spending way more time than you’d like in your car or bus at the customs.
In particular, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced today (27 April) through a statement that heavy traffic across both the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints is anticipated from today (28 April) to Tuesday (2 May).
Comparison With Good Friday Long Weekend’s Traffic Situation
When comparing the potential traffic situation this weekend to the recent Good Friday long weekend, ICA mentioned that the number of people crossing the land checkpoints averaged around 350,000 per day.
Which amounted to 1.4 million throughout the entire long weekend.
Additionally, queues and continuous tailbacks from Malaysia appeared at the checkpoints right before the long weekend started.
“Travellers departing by car should expect waiting times of up to three hours for peak periods over long weekends, similar to pre-COVID days,” ICA added.
Measures to Increase Efficiency of Clearing Customs
As for what ICA has done to help speed up the crossing of the checkpoints, the authority revealed that they have installed more automated lanes at both checkpoints since May last year to allow travellers to clear immigration efficiently.
Currently, both Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints have 40 automated lanes each.
These automated lanes can be used by both Singapore residents and “eligible first-time foreign visitors, including Malaysians”.
Additionally, these automated lanes allow officers to carry out different duties, such as being “deployed dynamically to areas at the car and motorcycle zones to help manage traffic congestion”.
“Clearance lanes[,] too, are converted flexibly for different modes of conveyances in response to the traffic conditions,” ICA explained.
How to Ensure Smooth(er) Travel
As for how to ensure that you don’t get stuck at customs for longer than necessary, here are a few steps you can take.
- Check the traffic condition at both checkpoints to determine the estimated travel time required. You can do so via the following means:
- Through the One Motoring website
- Through the Checkpoint.sg mobile application
- Through the Expressway Monitoring & Advisory System (EMAS) along the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) and Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE)
- From updates on ICA’s Facebook and Twitter accounts
- From updates by the following local broadcasts: Money 89.3, One 91.3, Kiss92, Hao 96.3 and UFM 100.3
2. Refrain from cutting the queue “as it can cause severe congestion and compromise the safety of other motorists”.
3. Abide by the “three-quarter tank” rule, as you will be denied entry into Malaysia and might be fined or prosecuted in court.
4. Long-term pass holders and short-term visitors can also check ICA’s statement to ensure that their travel documents are acceptable for entering Malaysia.
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No Jams During Hari Raya Puasa Weekend Despite ICA’s Announcement
However, if you’re already feeling discouraged from entering Malaysia by the impending traffic jams, here’s an interesting fact for you.
Just around a week ago, ICA said that traffic over the recent Hari Raya Puasa weekend, which took place from the night of Friday (21 April) to Sunday (23 April), would be back to pre-COVID levels and that lengthy jams were to be expected.
Despite this, it seemed like it was not the case.
To everyone’s surprise (and delight), Checkpoint.sg showed that it would take 80 to 120 minutes to travel from Woodlands to Johor Bahru (JB), while it would take 50 to 75 minutes to travel from Tuas Checkpoint to Johor Bahru on 21 April.
Lianhe Zaobao also reported no massive crowds at the checkpoints from 5-8 pm that day.
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