If there’s one part of crossing the causeway to get to Malaysia that Singaporeans hate, it’s the inconvenience at the customs checkpoint (and the jam).
But what if I told you that there’s going to be a more convenient way for us to get past the customs checkpoint in the near future?
And no, it’s not by cutting the queue to get to the customs as fast as possible.
Just yesterday (27 February), Minister for Communications and Information and Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo revealed that an automated clearance system would soon be adopted at the customs checkpoints during the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)’s Community of Supply debate.
Previously, the system had been trialled from last July to October at Woodlands Checkpoint.
According to Teo, this decision was made to increase efficiency for travellers who are crossing the causeway.
She also mentioned that Singapore has been using automated clearance systems such as at Changi airport and for all motorcyclists driving through the country’s land checkpoints since January 2017.
And here’s all you need to know about the brand-new system that’ll definitely make your journey across the causeway and back much smoother.
System Includes Facial and Iris Recognition, No Passengers Need to Get Out of the Car
Before you get your passport ready, here’s all you need to know about the Automated Passenger In-Car Clearance System (APICS) that will be set up at the customs in due time.
Before going through the actual clearance process, cars have to declare their vehicle registration and the number of passengers in the car at a self-help kiosk.
The driver will then have to scan the passports of all passengers in the car before the passengers move on to the facial and iris recognition processes.
The system features four facial and iris recognition devices that face all four of a car’s windows, meaning that passengers can use all the devices at once to present their biometrics and complete the immigration clearance process.
All from the comfort of one’s car.
Well, that’s definitely faster than waiting to get your passport stamped and then having to awkwardly reach your hand out to the customs officer to get your passport back.
During the trial period of the system, a total of 408 cars and more than 700 passengers participated, and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) decided that APICS would be permanently implemented for all cars passing through the customs in due time.
Apart from that, it was also announced that the HTX would be opening up 500 more job positions to hire more university and polytechnic graduates, as well as professionals with extensive experience in the fields of science, engineering and technology.
Besides that, it was also revealed that the HTX would be carrying out Exercise Northstar XI at Jurong Island this March.
The exercise will help reinforce the HTX’s adaptability and help build their effective response to threats such as terrorist attacks.
Over 300 personnel from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCF), Singapore Police Force (SPF), Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), JTC Corporation and other partners from the private sector will be participating in Exercise Northstar XI in order to test Singapore’s inter-agency response to terrorist attacks.
When commenting on this, Teo highlighted the fact that we should not take Singapore’s safety for granted despite our country being one of the world’s safest countries.
As such, the HTX should remain vigilant and adaptable to the new and ever-changing threats that might arise.