U-turns, bans await motorists who jump the queue at land checkpoints: ICA
SINGAPORE – Drivers might think they are saving precious minutes when jumping queues at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints.
But when they get stopped by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers, they will face having to make a U-turn and rejoin the queue.
They could also be blacklisted and face further disciplinary action from the authorities.
The June school holidays have begun and traffic is expected to be heavy at both land checkpoints.
To ensure a smooth travelling experience, ICA has reminded motorists about proper road etiquette. Speaking to reporters via a virtual interview on May 28, Inspector Mardiana Masdar, 43, team leader at the Integrated Operations Centre at Woodlands Checkpoint, said queue-jumping increases during peak hours when the traffic tailback is very bad.
It is an issue ICA officers take very seriously, she added.
Insp Mardiana said ground officers who spot vehicles jumping queues will alert the team at the operations centre, who will relay this information to traffic controllers near the checkpoint to direct them to make a U-turn to rejoin the queue.
She said: 'If they are non-compliant, we will refer them to our Secondary Office, where we are able to show them CCTV footage of them cutting queues.'
Non-compliant culprits can face bans from entering the checkpoints using their vehicles and can only do so by other means .
In June 2023, a Malaysian driver – who was travelling from Singapore to Malaysia via the Woodlands Checkpoint – had refused to make a U-turn, and even drove off after being caught by ICA for trying to jump the queue.
Because of his non-compliance and dangerous driving, the driver and car were banned from entering Singapore.
In a statement on May 23, ICA said traffic is expected to be very heavy at both land checkpoints during the June school holidays, particularly during the Hari Raya Haji weekend between June 6 and June 9. ICA noted that during the Vesak Day long weekend between May 8 and May 13, more than three million travellers crossed the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints.
Traveller volume peaked on May 9, with more than 546,000 travellers clearing immigration at both checkpoints in one day.
Earlier, there were traffic jams lasting as long as five hours at the two checkpoints on Polling Day on May 3. May 1 was a Labour Day public holiday while May 5 was a school holiday. On Dec 20, 2024, a record number of more than 562,000 travellers crossed the land checkpoints within a day.
Inspector Eileen Neo Hui Xin, 26, an assessment and investigation officer at Woodlands Checkpoint, said motorists can get more frustrated during busy periods due to long waits that can last several hours.
She said ICA officers will usually ignore motorists who take out their frustrations on them. But when motorists become abusive, the culprits will be directed to the Secondary Office for further interviews and investigations.
Insp Neo said traffic congestion can also happen when it rains.
Motorcyclists who enter through automated lanes may face issues getting the system to detect their wet fingerprints. They would then have to be manually cleared, causing a jam.
Impatient motorists honking their horns add to the chaos.
With operations very fast-paced and demanding during peak hours, Insp Neo said it takes a lot of coordination, quick decision-making and a constant awareness to keep operations running smoothly.
She said: 'Balancing efficiency with security standards is tough, but it also makes the work fulfilling. Everyone wants to travel smoothly. And during peak periods, it is very difficult to manage people's expectations and to manage the ground properly.
'We have to balance both to protect our border security and also meet (travellers') expectations.'
To ensure a smoother journey, ICA advised travellers not to bring prohibited or controlled items.
Checkpoint Inspector (1) Kendri Parwira Suhairi, 38, a first response team officer, said all ICA officers at the checkpoints are trained to identify dubious travellers based on indicators like their behaviour.
He remembered a Singaporean couple who arrived several months ago with batons they tried to pass off as tapping rods for defect checks in new homes.
'At one glance, I knew that was not the case,' he said.
They were referred to the police and the items were deemed to be controlled items.
CI (1) Kendri noted that during peak periods, the volume of people does not make security operations at the checkpoints any easier. But, he added, 'we remain vigilant 24/7. At the end of the day, we are the first line of defence at the border'.
Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Times
2 days ago
- Business Times
Kalkudah, Sri Lanka: Beauty and the beach
THE STORY OF SRI LANKA'S Kalkudah Beach House begins as almost all home-buying stories do: with someone falling in love with a place and imagining a forever life in it. And, as too many such tales go, purchase was quickly pursued by a stalled renovation. But unlike your standard contractor issues, these problems were more challenging than most. To wit: a civil war that lasted 26 years, and a devastating tsunami that wiped much of the estate out. Owner Jon Stonham's love affair with the house never waned, though, and for four-plus decades, he continued shaping it into his dream home. Kalkudah Beach House, managed by boutique luxury hotel group Teardrop Hotels, opened on Jun 1. PHOTO: TEARDROP HOTELS But with time inevitably came life changes that brought Stonham, a Briton who founded the villa rentals company Elite Havens, back to Europe. To make sure the house would be cared for, he invited Sri Lankan boutique luxury hotel group Teardrop Hotels to manage the property – on the condition that the contract included booking blocks for him to visit every year. This is how Kalkudah Beach House, which opened on Jun 1, was born. Kalkuda Beach House is a six-hour drive from Colombo, on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka. PHOTO: TEARDROP HOTELS Paradise found Kalkudah is located on Sri Lanka's remote eastern coast, a melting pot of diversity that was also once known for some of the country's most beautiful beaches. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up In this largely Tamil-speaking region, Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist cultures intertwine, their dominions marked by ancient kovils, mosques and monasteries. But the war years and the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami – both of which hit the east especially hard – have long erased it from the tourist radar. A Hindu temple in Kalkudah, a diverse region where numerous cultures intertwine. PHOTO: AUDREY PHOON Having Teardrop run what is essentially the area's first luxury boutique hotel by a hospitality group is significant, because it puts this under-visited region on travellers' maps once again. 'We were drawn to Kalkudah Beach House because it offers something rare – a sense of place on a truly pristine stretch of coastline in a region that's long been overlooked,' says Teardrop Hotels CEO Henry Fitch. To experience the hotel for ourselves, we take a six-hour drive from Colombo, fresh from an overnight stay at Teardrop's charming Wallawwa property near the airport. The bucolic Kalkudah estate is set amid 25 acres of coconut trees – a theme that continues with our welcome drink: a fresh coconut from the plantation, served with a warning not to linger under the trees' gently swaying branches. 'You need to watch out for falling coconuts!' resident manager Azhar Mohamed says, only half-joking. The estate is surrounded by 25 acres of coconut trees. PHOTO: TEARDROP HOTELS What stands out for us is how private the place is. Granted, we're its very first guests, but with only five suites (from US$350 a night), you're guaranteed an almost-exclusive stay even if it's fully booked – a rare privilege these days, not to mention at this price point. The suites – three in the dignified historic Main House with its Dutch-style arched doorways and windows that survived both the war and tsunami, and two in a modern new annexe called the Palm Villa – are bright and contemporary, with relaxed vibes and views that take in the verdant lawn in front of the property and picture-perfect Kalkudah Beach beyond. Although there's a tempting pool between the Main House and Palm Villa, we plump for a post-arrival stroll along the 15 km crescent-shaped beach, the fine golden sand and sun-toasted waters warming our toes. Pre-war, this would have been dotted with beginner surfers riding the small waves that break, like firecrackers going off, against the shore. But these days, the only sign of human presence is a few colourful oruwa – twin-hulled local fishing vessels – drawn up on the sand, and tiny, thatch-roofed shacks used by fishermen as shelters. Incredibly, after nearly an hour of exploration, we don't meet a soul. The subsequent days follow a similar rhythm: rise, eat, chill, beach, sleep. Meals here – crab and prawns fresh from the market, beef and butter from local cows – are tasty, hearty affairs, the work of Teardrop's group executive chef Sumudu Kadawata, previously of One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives. Meanwhile, a petanque court, a pool table and croquet on the lawn provide welcome ways to work off these feasts. Meals in the hotel, such as this Sri Lankan crab curry feast, are tasty, hearty affairs. PHOTO: AUDREY PHOON A 15 km crescent-shaped beach surrounds Kalkudah Beach Hotel. PHOTO: TEARDROP HOTELS Genuine charm If you don't feel like languid days in, the surrounding neighbourhoods are full of rich local experiences that the hotel will organise for you. One afternoon, we visit the fishery harbour at the nearby town of Valaichchenai, one of Sri Lanka's main fishing hubs, where deep-sea fishermen dock and distribute their catch. A fisherman with his catch at Valaichchenai fishery harbour. PHOTO: AUDREY PHOON Under the eaves of its open-air market, we watch goggle-eyed – the only non-locals around – as man after man hauls in barrel-like yellowfin tuna, hoisting them onto massive weighing scales. The cheery workers seem unbothered by our ogling, grinning merrily whenever a particularly large catch comes in. Another morning is spent at a produce market, observing meatmen skinning cows hanging from ceiling hooks, and bantering with stallholders over dried fish and gleaming fruit and vegetables grown in their own gardens. A meatman at the local market. PHOTO: AUDREY PHOON Here, coconuts take centre stage, too – so plentiful are the local food staple that they're categorised and sold by size and weight across one whole side of the market. Although agriculture is the main economic activity in the east coast, the production of textiles – Sri Lanka's top export, along with apparel – is also a major income stream for the region. One day, Azhar takes us to Palamunai, a small village filled with families of home weavers, where we pile into the corrugated-iron home of Rubia, a self-taught artisan. As the sprightly 68-year-old clacks away with hands and feet on her wooden loom, thread turns into fine-woven fabric, and we see the beginnings of a sarong emerge. Rubia, a self-taught artisan, turns thread into fine-woven fabric at her home in Palamunai. PHOTO: AUDREY PHOON Finishing one will take an hour of non-stop weaving and bring in 330 rupees – hard work, but Rubia waves it off good-spiritedly and with a cackle. 'This is nothing. I'm getting exercise free of charge!' The way ahead Sri Lanka's surging popularity means that our intimate east-coast experience will almost certainly morph in future. Post-pandemic international tourist arrivals have already climbed to more than 75 per cent of what they were before, with more than a few celebs – from Eminem to Ronaldo – visiting in recent years. But there's hope that change will be positive for all involved, with the government's Tourism Vision 2025 plan to support high-value, sustainable tourism that will benefit local communities. On our last day, we swap the road back to Colombo for an hour-long domestic Cinnamon Air flight that gives us a spectacular bird's eye view of the coast's clear waters and forested islets. The landscape is full of such brilliant blues and greens, it feels like we're looking at a painted map. The domestic flight back to Colombo gives a bird's eye view of the coast's clear waters and forested islets. PHOTO: AUDREY PHOON As the Cessna's propellers carve their way through azure skies and plump clouds, we think about how rare it is, in these travel-mad, social media-obsessed times, to visit a region as unselfconscious as Kalkudah, and what a privilege our stay has been. For now, at least, a fairytale awaits those lucky enough to spend time in this paradise. The writer was a guest of Teardrop Hotels
Business Times
3 days ago
- Business Times
Singaporeans are flocking to Johor's golf resorts – here's why
[KUALA LUMPUR] With Singapore trimming its golf real estate and some Malaysian courses being just 10 to 40 minutes from the immigration checkpoints, operators across the Causeway are teeing up for a golf boom. In the southern Malaysian state of Johor, home to 28 golf courses, clubs are sharpening their edge, hopeful that the shrinking number of fairways across the border will drive Singapore golfers up north, in pursuit of greener turf. Mohd Jamal Salleh, president of the Johor Golf Tourism Association (JGTA), referring to Singapore's recent announcement about the closure of four golf courses by 2035 to make way for housing, said: 'The closures will definitely help the Johor golf landscape.' The retired colonel may not be indulging in wishful thinking: Johor golf courses welcomed nearly 20 per cent more players – from 520,051 in 2022 to 621,261 in 2024, said the Johor Golf Association. Insiders are attributing this growth to Singapore's post-pandemic tourism rebound, growing interest from international players, especially Singaporeans, Koreans and Chinese nationals, and the impending course closures. Mohd Jamal said Singaporeans make up 60 per cent of weekend golfers in the state, with cost and proximity being the biggest pull factors for them. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up Nishit Majmudar, a retiree who plays the game every month in Johor, pays around S$110 for each round. 'It's just a one-hour drive, no visa needed, and the vibe is so much more relaxed,' he said. 'The courses are not crowded, and it's significantly cheaper than golfing back home.' Gregory Lim, a civil servant who has golfed since the 1990s, plays exclusively in Johor now. 'I gave up my Singapore club membership because I couldn't get bookings. Now, I pay S$50 to S$70 a round in Johor.' Golfers admit quality can be hit or miss, but there are swanky new courses. One is in Forest City, with its Jack Nicklaus-designed course, just 15 to 20 minutes from Tuas; another is The Els Club Desaru Coast, which offers ocean-front fairways and stay-and-play luxury. Such courses could push others to keep up. Forest City Golf Resort has a course designed by Jack Nicklaus. PHOTO: FOREST CITY GOLF RESORT To meet growing demand, Forest City Golf Resort in Gelang Patah, which attracts over 80 per cent international golfers, is planning a third golf course. 'Singapore's high-end golfers are looking for premium experiences nearby, and we're ready to welcome them,' said Anson Li Jun Wei, general manager of Forest City's Golf Resort, Forest City Golf Hotel and Forest City Marina Hotel. The green fees, at RM399 to RM599 (S$120 to S$180), may be higher than those at other clubs, but still a steal compared to those in Singapore or China, he said. Not so green pastures Rosy prospects aside, many clubs in Johor appear to be struggling to stay in the black, say industry players, who say that thin margins and unsustainable business models are undermining the sector's viability, even as some courses are pulling in more international traffic. Steve Chong, owner of Austin Heights Golf & Hotel Resort in Johor Bahru, estimated that only one in 10 golf courses in Johor make substantial profits – but qualified that this view is based on observation, not hard data. The 30-year-old Austin Heights facility, located in Johor Bahru's Austin Heights suburb, has an 18-hole layout with elevated tee boxes, ravine carries and undulating fairways offering scenic views and a strategic challenge. Steve Chong, who owns Austin Heights Golf & Hotel Resort, invested RM20 million to improve the course in 2011. PHOTO: AUSTIN HEIGHTS GOLF & HOTEL RESORT Some operators are battling steep maintenance costs, limited pricing power and pressure from alternative uses the land could be put to. Chong noted, for instance, that green fees in Malaysia are typically below RM200, but that the upkeep of the greens can go as high as RM400,000 a month. He should know, from having spent more than RM20 million in 2021 to rehabilitate the Austin Heights course. 'I tried raising fees once and lost 50 per cent of my golfers overnight,' he lamented. He also pointed out that the land the resort sits on could yield RM600 million to RM800 million if turned over for property development. 'That's the real pressure,' he said. Glass half full JGTA president Mohd Jamal does not agree that the majority of Johor's golf courses are struggling financially, because there are signs of expansion and investment. Sebana Cove Resort in Pengerang, Johor, accessible by car or ferry from Singapore, is preparing to reopen within six months. And established venues such as the Johor Golf & Country Club in Johor Bahru are 'sprucing up for the influx of Singaporean golfers'. Johor golf clubs are 'sprucing up for the influx of Singaporean golfers', says Mohd Jamal Salleh, president of the Johor Golf Tourism Association (JGTA) PHOTO: JGTA But he warned: 'Operators should not engage in price wars against one another, as that would affect their profit.' Forest City's Li said: 'When I first arrived in Johor from China in 2018, many golf-industry friends warned me: 'Don't raise prices so readily; golfers will go to other courses. 'But I saw the local industry trapped in a vicious cycle: price competition leading to lower maintenance budgets, which caused a decline in quality, which drove away golfers, leading to more price wars.' The golf resort took a different path – it spent two years building professional teams and improving quality. 'After the pandemic, we expanded into new markets ... increasing the number of Korean golfers from 2 to 30 per cent. We proved that improving quality and expanding the pie works. Price wars have no winners.' He added: 'You can't cut corners and expect sustainable success.' Rising stars Ong Seng Keat, general manager of Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club and secretary of the Johor Golf Association, said: 'We're lucky to have loyal members and are expanding our events business.' The club, which sits in the heart of Iskandar Puteri about 25 minutes from Tuas Checkpoint, blends resort-style calm with tournament-grade credentials. It took the Malaysia's Best Golf Course title at the 2025 International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) Awards, and has hosted major events like the Asia Golf Tourism Convention. The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone could galvanise the scene. 'Many clubs are planning refurbishments, and if the SEZ grows, it will definitely benefit the industry with more corporate events,' said Ong. At The Els Club Desaru Coast, general manager Harris Abdullah cites a good mix in customer base for the club's resilience. It hosts top-tier amateur and professional tournaments, and has the 2025 Bridgestone Asean Amateur Open on its calendar in September. Harris noted that around 42 per cent of the club's golfers are Malaysian residents (including expats); the remainder are international visitors, primarily from Singapore, South Korea, elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific, Europe and the US. 'That diversity smooths out seasonality and underpins our profitability,' he added. Forest City Golf Resort, which has two championship courses and more than 9,000 rounds played monthly, has won recognition for its environmental and social sustainability from the GEO Foundation, a non-profit body that supports sustainability and climate action in and through golf. Its general manager Li said: 'International golfers rarely come for just a single round. They stay longer, spend more, and support the wider tourism ecosystem.'
Business Times
4 days ago
- Business Times
Johor tees up for cross-border golf boom as Singapore cuts number of courses
[KUALA LUMPUR] With Singapore trimming its golf real estate and some Malaysian courses being just 10 to 40 minutes from the immigration checkpoints, operators across the Causeway are teeing up for a golf boom. In the southern Malaysian state of Johor, home to 28 golf courses, clubs are sharpening their edge, hopeful that the shrinking number of fairways across the border will drive Singapore golfers up north, in pursuit of greener turf. Mohd Jamal Salleh, president of the Johor Golf Tourism Association (JGTA), referring to Singapore's recent announcement about the closure of four golf courses by 2035 to make way for housing, said: 'The closures will definitely help the Johor golf landscape.' The retired colonel may not be indulging in wishful thinking: Johor golf courses welcomed nearly 20 per cent more players – from 520,051 in 2022 to 621,261 in 2024, said the Johor Golf Association. Insiders are attributing this growth to Singapore's post-pandemic tourism rebound, growing interest from international players, especially Singaporeans, Koreans and Chinese nationals, and the impending course closures. Mohd Jamal said Singaporeans make up 60 per cent of weekend golfers in the state, with cost and proximity being the biggest pull factors for them. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up Nishit Majmudar, a retiree who plays the game every month in Johor, pays around S$110 for each round. 'It's just a one-hour drive, no visa needed, and the vibe is so much more relaxed,' he said. 'The courses are not crowded, and it's significantly cheaper than golfing back home.' Gregory Lim, a civil servant who has golfed since the 1990s, plays exclusively in Johor now. 'I gave up my Singapore club membership because I couldn't get bookings. Now, I pay S$50 to S$70 a round in Johor.' Golfers admit quality can be hit or miss, but there are swanky new courses. One is in Forest City, with its Jack Nicklaus-designed course, just 15 to 20 minutes from Tuas; another is The Els Club Desaru Coast, which offers ocean-front fairways and stay-and-play luxury. Such courses could push others to keep up. Forest City Golf Resort has a course designed by Jack Nicklaus. PHOTO: FOREST CITY GOLF RESORT To meet growing demand, Forest City Golf Resort in Gelang Patah, which attracts over 80 per cent international golfers, is planning a third golf course. 'Singapore's high-end golfers are looking for premium experiences nearby, and we're ready to welcome them,' said Anson Li Jun Wei, general manager of Forest City's Golf Resort, Forest City Golf Hotel and Forest City Marina Hotel. The green fees, at RM399 to RM599 (S$120 to S$180), may be higher than those at other clubs, but still a steal compared to those in Singapore or China, he said. Not so green pastures Rosy prospects aside, many clubs in Johor appear to be struggling to stay in the black, say industry players, who say that thin margins and unsustainable business models are undermining the sector's viability, even as some courses are pulling in more international traffic. Steve Chong, owner of Austin Heights Golf & Hotel Resort in Johor Bahru, estimated that only one in 10 golf courses in Johor make substantial profits – but qualified that this view is based on observation, not hard data. The 30-year-old Austin Heights facility, located in Johor Bahru's Austin Heights suburb, has an 18-hole layout with elevated tee boxes, ravine carries and undulating fairways offering scenic views and a strategic challenge. Steve Chong, who owns Austin Heights Golf & Hotel Resort, invested RM20 million to improve the course in 2011. PHOTO: AUSTIN HEIGHTS GOLF & HOTEL RESORT Some operators are battling steep maintenance costs, limited pricing power and pressure from alternative uses the land could be put to. Chong noted, for instance, that green fees in Malaysia are typically below RM200, but that the upkeep of the greens can go as high as RM400,000 a month. He should know, from having spent more than RM20 million in 2021 to rehabilitate the Austin Heights course. 'I tried raising fees once and lost 50 per cent of my golfers overnight,' he lamented. He also pointed out that the land the resort sits on could yield RM600 million to RM800 million if turned over for property development. 'That's the real pressure,' he said. Glass half full JGTA president Mohd Jamal does not agree that the majority of Johor's golf courses are struggling financially, because there are signs of expansion and investment. Sebana Cove Resort in Pengerang, Johor, accessible by car or ferry from Singapore, is preparing to reopen within six months. And established venues such as the Johor Golf & Country Club in Johor Bahru are 'sprucing up for the influx of Singaporean golfers'. Johor golf clubs are 'sprucing up for the influx of Singaporean golfers', says Mohd Jamal Salleh, president of the Johor Golf Tourism Association (JGTA) PHOTO: JGTA But he warned: 'Operators should not engage in price wars against one another, as that would affect their profit.' Forest City's Li said: 'When I first arrived in Johor from China in 2018, many golf-industry friends warned me: 'Don't raise prices so readily; golfers will go to other courses. 'But I saw the local industry trapped in a vicious cycle: price competition leading to lower maintenance budgets, which caused a decline in quality, which drove away golfers, leading to more price wars.' The golf resort took a different path – it spent two years building professional teams and improving quality. 'After the pandemic, we expanded into new markets ... increasing the number of Korean golfers from 2 to 30 per cent. We proved that improving quality and expanding the pie works. Price wars have no winners.' He added: 'You can't cut corners and expect sustainable success.' Rising stars Ong Seng Keat, general manager of Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club and secretary of the Johor Golf Association, said: 'We're lucky to have loyal members and are expanding our events business.' The club, which sits in the heart of Iskandar Puteri about 25 minutes from Tuas Checkpoint, blends resort-style calm with tournament-grade credentials. It took the Malaysia's Best Golf Course title at the 2025 International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) Awards, and has hosted major events like the Asia Golf Tourism Convention. The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone could galvanise the scene. 'Many clubs are planning refurbishments, and if the SEZ grows, it will definitely benefit the industry with more corporate events,' said Ong. At The Els Club Desaru Coast, general manager Harris Abdullah cites a good mix in customer base for the club's resilience. It hosts top-tier amateur and professional tournaments, and has the 2025 Bridgestone Asean Amateur Open on its calendar in September. Harris, noting that around 42 per cent of the club's golfers are Malaysian residents (including expats); the remainder are international visitors, primarily from Singapore, South Korea, elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific, Europe and the US. 'That diversity smooths out seasonality and underpins our profitability,' he added. Forest City Golf Resort, which has two championship courses and more than 9,000 rounds played monthly, has won recognition for its environmental and social sustainability from the GEO Foundation, a non-profit body that supports sustainability and climate action in and through golf. Its general manager Li said: 'International golfers rarely come for just a single round. They stay longer, spend more, and support the wider tourism ecosystem.'
