Ministry of Home Affairs
Joint Clearance at checkpoints

The new Johore state government is keen to reduce the travel time taken by workers and visitors to clear the checkpoints between Singapore and Malaysia.

The Singapore government can take this opportunity to introduce a new system of checks that will be good for the people of both countries. 

Here is my suggestion.

a) Introduce a joint clearance system. The travelers need to pass through only one checkpoint, instead of two checkpoints on each trip.

b) The check will be done at the entry into the country. For example, Visitors entering Malaysia will be checked at the Johore side, and do NOT have to be checked at the Singapore side. Visitors entering Singapore will be checked at the Singapore side and do not have to be checked at the Malaysian side.

c) The checkpoint at each side will have a computer link to the other side to see if the traveler is barred from leaving the country. If there is a bar, the traveler will not be allowed to pass the checkpoint. For example, if a traveler is barred from leaving Singapore, the Malaysian side will not allow the traveler to enter Malaysia. There will be a similar arrangement for traveler that is barred from leaving Malaysia.

d) The computer link can be implemented easily and at low cost. it will only provide the passport number of the traveler to the other side to check against their computer system.

e) This new arrangement will cut down the travel time by half to one hour each way.

Tan Kin Lian

 

Add Comment

---