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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Choked checkpoints: The solution is with ICA
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to the discussion on the choked checkpoint at Tuas during the recent Chinese New Year festive period.
Often, the primary cause of the massive jams is the fact that only a handful of immigration clearance booths are open most of the time. A case in point was the massive jam at Tuas on Saturday, Jan 24. The Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) opened the second block of booths only at about 6am, long after the congestion started well before 4am. Cars hardly moved, while children and other family members were scampering around looking for toilets.
The gridlock not only created great discomfort to motorists but is also a safety and security issue. Imagine the panic if a car were to catch fire from a short circuit. No civil defence vehicle would be able to reach the affected car, nor would any ambulance or medical personnel. Has the ICA considered such a scenario?
We often hear and read glowing news reports about the efficiency of our award-winning airport, where passengers are cleared swiftly, without any compromise to national security. Yet such a culture does not seem to have taken root at the two Singapore-Malaysia crossings.
Immigration clearance is painstakingly slow with only a small number of booths in operation. The personnel who man the booths often look disenchanted, unfriendly and could do with training in customer service. In fact, passport clearance takes far longer than security checks on vehicles.
As for foresight, the ICA appears to open more booths long after the jam has built up. Joseph Ong
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to the discussion on the choked checkpoint at Tuas during the recent Chinese New Year festive period.
Often, the primary cause of the massive jams is the fact that only a handful of immigration clearance booths are open most of the time. A case in point was the massive jam at Tuas on Saturday, Jan 24. The Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) opened the second block of booths only at about 6am, long after the congestion started well before 4am. Cars hardly moved, while children and other family members were scampering around looking for toilets.
The gridlock not only created great discomfort to motorists but is also a safety and security issue. Imagine the panic if a car were to catch fire from a short circuit. No civil defence vehicle would be able to reach the affected car, nor would any ambulance or medical personnel. Has the ICA considered such a scenario?
We often hear and read glowing news reports about the efficiency of our award-winning airport, where passengers are cleared swiftly, without any compromise to national security. Yet such a culture does not seem to have taken root at the two Singapore-Malaysia crossings.
Immigration clearance is painstakingly slow with only a small number of booths in operation. The personnel who man the booths often look disenchanted, unfriendly and could do with training in customer service. In fact, passport clearance takes far longer than security checks on vehicles.
As for foresight, the ICA appears to open more booths long after the jam has built up. Joseph Ong
