Drive up to JB frequently? Here’s a reminder not to cut the queue at the JB customs.
If you do, you might get “UNO Reversed” by the police and sent across the causeway back to Singapore.
Drivers Caught Cutting Queue at JB Customs Will Be Directed Back to Singapore
On Friday (2 June), the Johor Chief Minister (CM), Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, shared on Facebook that vehicles caught cutting the queue at JB customs will be directed back to Singapore.
This was also confirmed by the Johor police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat.
To enforce the measure, officers from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) have been stationed around the Sultan Abu Bakar Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex (KSAB), the JB customs dealing with travellers from Singapore’s Tuas Checkpoint.
Traffic cones were also set up along the vehicle lane to prevent drivers from cutting the queue. Tough luck.
Perhaps you’ll have to take a page from a particular Malaysian man’s book to beat the queues—putting a sign on your vehicle requesting other drivers to give way because your wife is in labour.
Record-Breaking Traffic at Checkpoints Over Long Weekend
Are you frustrated with the new rule?
At least you have something to blame: the record-breaking traffic at both checkpoints over the long Vesak Day weekend.
Over the Vesak Day weekend, there were so many travellers trying to cross the causeway that crowds of people in the queue were spilling out of the customs building.
It almost looks like a “Where’s Wally?” illustration.
According to the Johor CM, more than 258,000 travellers entered Malaysia via Woodlands Checkpoint and more than 63,000 travellers via Tuas Checkpoint on Thursday (1 June) evening.
This means that nearly 320,000 people crossed the causeway in one evening alone. Just imagine how bad vehicular traffic must have been.
It’s no wonder our neighbours implemented the “UNO Reverse” measure at the JB customs.
To tackle the high traffic volumes at the JB customs, the Johor CM also requested the management of both JB customs to open counters designated to serve pedestrians and public transport.
Officers from multiple agencies, including the Malaysian Immigration Department, the Royal Customs Department of Malaysia, the PDRM, and the Malaysian Volunteer Department (RELA), were also on duty to ensure smooth traffic around JB customs at the CM’s request.
Macam gathering Power Rangers.
On Singapore’s end, we also have tricks up our sleeves to manage traffic and queue cutting near the customs.
In April, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced that the viaduct leading to Woodlands Checkpoint would be demarcated with continuous double white lines, prohibiting cars from crossing.
This means that cars stuck in jams along the Woodlands viaduct cannot cut vehicular queues, as that means they’ll have to cross the double white lines.
Drivers violating this rule are liable to a composition fine of $150 and four demerit points.
And let’s admit it; you’d sooner see us kiasu Singaporeans on our deathbeds than pay a fine.
Enforcement cameras were also set up in the area to catch violators of the rule.
TLDR; you have only one thing to note if you’re crossing the causeway. Don’t cut queues, no matter which end of the causeway you’re on.