ISKANDAR PUTERI, Aug 25 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today praised both federal and state government agencies for their efforts in reducing the Johor Causeway passport clearance time on the Malaysian side.
He said the clearance time on the Malaysian side of the Causeway is now much faster than compared to in Singapore.
“The close cooperation between the federal and Johor government has managed to make positive improvements at the country’s entry and exit points in Johor Baru,” he said during his opening address at a unity government leadership programme at the Sunway Hotel Big Box in Medini City here today.
Anwar was commenting on the improvements made at Johor Baru’s mainland checkpoint to Singapore after efforts by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi to ease the burden of those via the Causeway daily.
Present at the event were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Onn Hafiz.
Earlier, Anwar visited the Sultan Iskandar Building’s (BSI) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) together with Onn Hafiz and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The prime minister said he noticed the immediate improvements made where the Immigration Department, Customs Department and police personnel were working faster and more efficiently.
“The passport clearance time is now much faster on our side compared to Singapore. I salute the civil servants that have made this possible,” he said.
Onn Hafiz has been credited for his constant spot checks at the BSI’s CIQ since last year in an effort to improve the waiting time at the passport control.
He said improving connectivity with Singapore was important as the Johor Causeway has been touted as among the busiest land crossings in the world.
It is estimated that more than 280,000 Malaysians commute daily to Singapore from 4am.
