JOHOR BARU, Jan 20 — The electronic gate (e-gate) facilities for Johor’s two land entry points at the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) and the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) were opened to Singaporeans starting today.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who made the announcement, said the move will benefit the up to 50,000 Singaporean visitors who visit Johor for social purposes.

He said the move to open up e-gate facilities at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complexes were among short-term solutions to speed up incoming and outgoing pedestrian flow at both BSI and KSAB.

“Previously, the e-gate facilities were only limited for the use of local Malaysian passport holders. From today we are providing access to the e-gate facilities for Singaporeans who use e-passports.

“The Immigration Department will also expand the use of the e-gate facility to other countries that are categorised as low risk countries such as Brunei, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia and Japan,” said Saifuddin to reporters after chairing the Coordinating Committee Meeting on Tackling Congestion at the Johor Causeway at the Sultan Iskandar Building’s CIQ Complex here today.

Present were Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and senior government officers.

Earlier, they accompanied Saifuddin to visit the Johor Causeway at 5am today.

Saifuddin said he observed the smoothness of the e-gate system, which was faster than using the counters.

“However, the e-gate facility for Singaporeans is subject to several conditions, such as holders of an e-passport with a validity period of at least three months.

“In addition to that, Singapore visitors need to submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online three days before travel and also to verify their biometrics at the Immigration counter for the first time," he said.

Saifuddin said the initiative also demonstrated the continued commitment of the Malaysian authorities, especially the Immigration Department, to assist the people of both countries.

“More e-gates at BSI will also be added to the current 20 gantries available. The plan will see an additional 20 e-gate gantries placed at the exit and entry routes.

“I am confident that these additional 20 e-gate gantries will definitely relieve congestion. It is still too early to expected the proper figures, but we will be monitoring as the particular route receives more than 200,000 visitors at peak periods," he said.

Since November 15 last year, the use of e-gate facilities has been open for Long Term Social Visit Pass holders at the entrance of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

As of January 2023, KLIA recorded 12,162 outbound and inbound movements by Social Visit Pass holders.